If you’re missing a tooth in the front of your mouth, you may be inclined to have it replaced as soon as possible. After all, this can make your smile look gapped and less lovely than before. But what if you have a missing back tooth? You may think replacing a pearly white in the back of the mouth is less important since no one can see it anyway, but this isn’t the case. Read on to learn about five ways that a missing back tooth still needs to be replaced.
Reason #1: Chewing Food
All of your teeth have different intended purposes for when you eat. Molars, which are the large, flat teeth at the back of the mouth, are meant to be used to chew and grind up food so you can swallow it more easily. When you’re missing one of your molars, this can make it harder to properly chew foods like broccoli, carrots, and spinach. This may result in issues with digestion and may also make it harder to get the nutrients your smile needs to remain healthy.
Reason #2: Shifting Teeth
When a tooth falls out or you need to have it pulled, the surrounding teeth will start shifting to fill in the space. This will weaken your teeth, causing your bite to suffer. As your teeth continue to become weaker and pressure is distributed unevenly, they may eventually break or fall out, meaning that you’ll need to have even more teeth replaced.
Reason #3: Weakening Jawbone
If someone is missing a tooth, the jawbone in the area where it used to be will no longer receive the stimulation it needs to remain healthy and strong. This will cause it to erode over time. As a result, the jawbone will become weaker. In fact, 25% of the bone will be lost in the first year alone.
Reason #4: Oral & Overall Health Risks Increase
When you have a gap in your grin, it offers the perfect opportunity for plaque, bacteria, and food particles to get trapped there. This encourages the formation of cavities and can also lead to gum disease and tooth infections. Gapped teeth are also more difficult to clean properly. Additionally, poor oral health has been linked to health concerns like memory loss and heart disease.
Reason #5: Your Facial Structure Can Change
Teeth help you chew up your food, but they also provide your face with structure. If you have a missing back tooth, jawbone deterioration will start to make your face look lopsided or saggy. This can give you a sunken appearance that makes you look older than you actually are.
As you can see, a missing back tooth still needs to be replaced. Contact your dentist to set up an appointment so you can learn about the treatments they offer to fill in the gap and get your smile back on track!
About the Practice
Klein Family Dentistry is located in Harrisburg and treats their Pennsylvania patients with the kind, effective, and compassionate care they deserve. They administer a variety of dental health treatments to keep your smile looking and functioning at its best. If you have a missing back tooth or gaps in other parts of your smile, they can help you decide which of their replacement options is best for you. Visit Klein Family Dentistry‘s website or call their office at (717) 652-6644 to learn more about replacing a missing back tooth or to make an appointment.