When someone loses a tooth in the front of their mouth from decay, an accident, or another factor, the resulting gap in their grin can cause them to lose confidence in their smile. But, when people lose a tooth in the back of their mouth, they may not feel as bothered by it. If you can’t even tell that it’s gone, why bother spending time and money on replacing it? So that you understand the importance of getting a dental implant or other restoration to fill in the gap, read on to learn three reasons why a missing back tooth still needs to be replaced.
Reason #1: Chewing Food
When it comes to eating, all of your teeth serve different purposes. For example, molars are meant to chew and grind food up so that it’s easier to swallow. When you are missing a molar, this can make it more difficult to properly chew nutritious foods like broccoli, carrots, and spinach, which can lead to digestion issues and make it difficult for your smile to get the nutrients you need.
Reason #2: Shifting Teeth
Another reason why eating is more difficult with a missing back tooth is because of shifting. When you lose one of your pearly whites or have it pulled, the surrounding teeth will begin to shift to fill in the gap. As a result, your teeth will become weaker and your bite will suffer. Additionally, your teeth may eventually break or fall out. This means that you’ll need to spend even more time and money on having them replaced.
Reason #3: Weakening Jawbone
Along with the above issues, missing teeth can also lead to jawbone deterioration. This is because the lack of stimulation in the area where the tooth used to be signals to the body that it no longer needs the jawbone in that area. As a result, it’s reabsorbed. This will cause the remaining teeth to become weaker and may also result in facial sagging.
To avoid the above issues, make sure to speak with your dentist about when you can have a missing back tooth replaced. This will allow you to keep your jawbone strong and get back to enjoying a healthy, full smile!
About the Practice
Lose a tooth due to injury or decay? Geller Dentistry is here to help you replace your missing back tooth and get your oral health back on track. Led by Dr. Benjamin Geller and Dr. Gloria Garcia-Geller, they offer dental implants and other replacement options to prevent shifting and jawbone deterioration. their friendly, inviting staff will have you feeling safe, comfortable, and well cared for from the moment you enter their office to the moment you leave. Visit their website or call (323) 467-1472 to schedule an appointment or for more information on dental implants and other options to replace a missing back tooth.