The Answer Is YES, You Should…

There are a number of reasons that tooth loss may occur, such as severe decay, trauma to the mouth, effects of medication or illness, and even aging...

Have you recently experienced tooth loss and are trying to decide if a tooth replacement option is necessary? While this question may not pertain to you at the moment, you may experience tooth loss at some point in your life and have the same question. There are a number of reasons that tooth loss may occur, such as severe decay, trauma to the mouth, effects of medication or illness, and even aging. No matter the reason for your tooth loss, our answer regarding tooth replacement is always the same. Continue reading to learn our answer and the reasoning behind our response.

Always Replace Missing Teeth

When a patient experiences tooth loss or visits us after missing teeth for some time, we are often asked if a tooth replacement is necessary, and our response is always the same — yes. Patients who lose their front teeth are usually eager to replace them because they are visible. However, the sentiment is not always shared when a rear molar is missing. While there are a number of reasons we recommend replacing your missing teeth, there are two extremely important reasons we want to share:

Function of the Teeth

Although teeth are separate in your mouth, all of your teeth work together as a complete unit, similar to players on a team. When one tooth is missing, it can affect the way the surrounding teeth function. For example, a missing rear molar that is used to chew food will increase the wear of the surrounding teeth. Over time, this will lead to uneven wear and increase the likelihood of experiencing damage to the tooth such as cracking or breaking. While a missing tooth can be managed for a short time, it will also eventually lead to the deterioration of the jawbone.

Shifting Teeth

Teeth love to take any available space they can find. When a tooth is missing, the space allows the surrounding teeth to shift out of place to take the empty space. Shifting teeth can lead to problems with decay, crowding, crooked teeth, and bite issues.

To avoid the issues mentioned above, we suggest replacing your missing tooth or teeth as soon as possible. To learn more about the tooth replacement options we recommend, be sure to call our office located in Bernardsville, NJ to schedule an appointment. We hope to see you soon!

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