When you talk or smile or laugh, showing your front teeth is inevitable. If one of these becomes lost to decay, injury, or infection, everyone notices, which is why you would instantly want to replace it. However, if one of your teeth toward the back of your mouth goes missing, who would see it? Who would know? Could you get away with not replacing one of these less visible teeth?
Ultimately, replacement is necessary even for a back tooth no one else can see. Those around you can notice your missing tooth because of other signs. What can happen if you don’t replace a tooth in the back with a dental implant? Keep reading to find out!
Your Remaining Teeth Will Shift to Compensate for the Lost Tooth.
Did you know that when a tooth goes missing the others will move to fill in the gap? This phenomenon is meant to avoid losing chewing ability, but it often ends up doing just that. Shifting messes up how the upper and lower teeth match against each other. When they don’t line up properly, you can experience jaw pain and headaches, fast tooth wear, and a weak or ineffective bite. Plus, if you’re concerned about appearance, having your teeth spread out will clearly indicate to others that you have lost at least one tooth.
To keep your teeth in their appropriate spots, you need to substitute a prosthetic tooth, ideally an implant.
You Probably Won’t Chew Food as Efficiently as Before.
Back teeth, also called molars, serve a critical purpose: they grind up your food to prepare it for easier digestion. If you have lost a molar, your ability to break up food into smaller pieces becomes limited and difficult. As a result, your diet may have to change to softer options, or you may need to cut your food into smaller pieces and take more time to chew properly. Otherwise, you can suffer from digestion issues and pain.
Replacing your missing tooth, especially with a dental implant, can allow you to enjoy foods you love and stay healthy.
If You Laugh or Smile Hard, Someone Might See the Missing Tooth.
Most of the time, your missing tooth in the back may be challenging to spot, but if someone tells a hilarious joke, or you exaggerate your smile to show all your teeth, you just might give yourself away. Do you really want to worry about exposing your lost tooth to the point where you can’t be yourself?
With a dental implant or bridge, you don’t have to remain on guard to hide your missing tooth. You can laugh, eat, smile, and talk freely and without feeling self-conscious.
Whether anyone else can see it or not, you know there’s a gap in your smile. Restoring your complete set of teeth can give you confidence around others and provide better oral function. Instead of basing decisions about your tooth replacement on what others can see, consider your own goals and how you feel about yourself.
About the Author
Dr. Ahn Vo’s quest to refine his dentistry skills didn’t end when he earned his dental degree from Texas A&M University School of Dentistry. Every year, he takes more than 150 hours of continuing education coursework to learn cutting-edge care in dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, and more. He has almost earned Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry, which is an accomplishment that relatively few dentists have achieved in the nation. Do you have one or more missing teeth? Talk to Dr. Vo about your options at Radiant Smiles in Grand Prairie, TX. Give the office a call at 469-890-1199 or visit the website to contact us!