What Happens If You Don't Replace a Missing Tooth?

Your teeth need each other to stand firmly and function properly. When you lose a tooth and do not replace it for a while, it not only affects your appearance and the ability to eat properly, but may also have serious long-term impacts, including jawbone loss and misaligned teeth.

At Lynnwood Dental Studio, we are committed to sharing real information and facts about dental hygiene to help patients maintain their smile. Understanding what happens if you don’t replace a missing tooth is the first step to finding the best way to restore your oral health (such as dental implants). Here’s why and how to replace a missing tooth.

What Happens When You Lose a Tooth

Teeth need each other’s support to stand firm together. Having all teeth healthy and sound is important to maintain proper alignment. When you lose a tooth, neighboring teeth may lose their grip, causing them to shift, which leads to an uneven bite. This is not just inconvenient, as you might experience constant pain and/or trouble eating, but can also, over time, lead to serious consequences, including jawbone loss due to the lack of support provided by a tooth root. This can even cause your face to change shape, making you look prematurely aged.

Moreover, when you miss a few teeth, remaining teeth are forced to compensate for them during chewing, leading to increased strain and chances of wear. Replacing missing teeth is important not just to restore your natural smile and appearance but also to protect your jawbone and the shape of your mouth. As the most trusted local family dentists in Lynnwood, we advise our patients to visit us immediately to explore their best teeth replacement options.

What Happens If You Don't Replace a Missing Tooth

1. Limits what and how much you can eat

With a few missing teeth, you may experience difficulty chewing or biting. This often means you’ll start eating less or may have to rely exclusively on soft foods and liquids, making it difficult to get all the nutrients you need daily. So, you may experience low energy or get tired easily.

2. Causes other teeth to shift or loosen

With one or more neighbouring teeth gone, other teeth may start to shift in the gap left by the missing tooth. This causes your teeth to become misaligned and could make it difficult to bite (called bite shifting). With the support gone, neighbouring teeth may also destabilise or become wobbly over time, increasing the risk of loss.

3. Leads to jawbone loss

The act of chewing and biting with teeth is crucial to maintaining a healthy jawbone. When you lose a tooth, there is no stimulation in the gap created by the missing tooth, causing the jawbone in that area to weaken over time and eventually disappear. This is dangerous because loss of jawbone can lead to irreversible structural changes, including facial collapse.

4. May alter facial features

As we mentioned before, loss of one or more teeth can alter your face’s shape or even cause it to collapse due to jawbone loss and shifting of remaining teeth, making your cheeks look sunken and skin wrinkly or prematurely aged. This can also make it difficult to wear dentures or any other cosmetic alternatives.

5. Causes chronic headaches

A constant pain in the gums, face or head is another common and extremely inconvenient side effect of tooth loss. When you lose a tooth, the remaining teeth start shifting to fill its place and cause pressure on the opposing gums, making them ache. The constant stress to the jaw joint can even migrate pain from your gums and face to your head and other linked body parts.

6. Affects your ability to speak properly

One or more missing teeth can make it difficult for some people to speak or talk properly, including difficulty pronouncing certain words. This can make it difficult for others to understand them. In some cases, their words may be accompanied by a whistling sound.

7. Causes the expansion of the sinus cavity

If teeth from the back upper jaw are gone, it means losing the support that keeps the sinus cavity in check. This may lead to sinus expansion and gradual erosion of the jawbone. Immediate and reflective teeth restoration can help control the expansion.

Also Read: What Happens If You Ignore a Cavity?

8. Lowers confidence and self-esteem

Missing teeth, especially front teeth, can significantly impact your confidence and self-esteem. Your smile is one of the best things about you. If even one tooth goes missing, your smile may not feel complete or confident. You may feel shy about opening your mouth in front of others, let alone speaking in a broken tone.

If you feel embarrassed in front of your friends or colleagues because of missing teeth, it’s time to start exploring the best teeth replacement options with a credible dentist.

What are the Best Replacement Options for Missing Teeth?

The most popular, common, and cost-effective teeth replacement option is a dental implant, which involves surgically installing an artificial tooth (with roots) into the jawbone. Dental implants work even if you have just one or multiple teeth missing. With proper care, they can last decades. They are usually accompanied by crowns or dentures for added protection.

Other teeth restoration options include fixed bridges and dentures (removable or fixed).

Recommended: How Painful are Dental Implants?

Conclusion

For all the reasons mentioned above, replacing missing teeth is crucial and extremely beneficial. Losing even one tooth can significantly impact your appearance, smile, facial structure, jawbone health, and confidence. It’s also important to get the missing tooth replaced as soon as possible to minimize damage to the jawbone, as a weaker or low-quality jawbone can make oral surgery challenging or less effective.

If you’d like to discuss your teeth replacement options with a specialist, contact us today to schedule an appointment at your convenience. Let’s restore your natural smile, one tooth at a time.