We Would Never Recommend Ignoring A Missing Back Tooth

Ignoring gaps in the mouth, even if they’re out of sight, can have drastic consequences on your oral health and cause the bite and rest of your teeth to experience problems later in life if you don’t act fast in the initial stages. Bone loss, which can occur in as little as six months, might not sound serious now, but it can lead to future tooth loss and facial sagging if the right steps are not taken to preserve it. Don’t make a decision now that you might regret later.

Back Tooth Treatment Considerations

It doesn’t matter how you lost your tooth, but rather when and the type of treatment you plan to close the gap. For example, the type of restoration you choose will be essential for preserving and maintaining the integrity of your oral health.

Opting for traditional methods using dentures or bridgework might conceal the gap and help save you a penny, but sadly, it does nothing to preserve bone in the jaw and can cause gum shrinkage and further tooth loss over time. And whilst this might not be a major concern for you right now, it might limit your options later in life if you do decide to opt for better treatments like dental implants.

In reality, traditional treatments are not that much cheaper than modern, advanced types like dental implants. In the end, you’ll really only save a thousand pound initially and will spend a lot more over your lifetime, replacing and repairing them.

Should You Replace A Missing Molar?

It’s generally recommended to replace any missing teeth. If you have more than one missing tooth, for example, two in a row, replacing the tooth root to preserve bone in the area becomes even more important. When there’s a missing tooth in the back of the mouth, you lose essential support for your face and cheeks and the biting force is no longer distributed evenly, putting pressure on your remaining teeth.

If you notice that teeth are beginning to move into the open space or your gums are swelling and becoming irritated, you’re beginning to experience the negative changes of tooth loss. A dental professional should be involved to help you manage the effects.

Treat Missing Teeth Sooner Than Later

When it comes to replacing a lost tooth, whether it’s an incisor or molar, patients are urged to act quickly to avoid common problems with missing teeth like bone loss.

For example, if you’ve lost one tooth, you’re likely to lose your adjacent teeth too, and having larger gaps in the mouth might be harder to ignore.

However, if you’ve lived with missing teeth for some time, you might no longer be a candidate for advanced treatments like dental implants, which need bone to survive and work.

Therefore, pre-prosthetic procedures like bone grafts and sinus lifts might be required beforehand to ensure your treatment is successful – all of which will be an additional cost and a delay to your final restoration.