What You Can Do About Missing Teeth Q&A

The most common reasons why someone would lose a tooth, especially as an adult, include severe decay of the tooth, severe gum disease, and a traumatic injury to the mouth. Some genetic factors can increase the likelihood of someone being born without certain teeth, where the adult teeth just never grow in after the baby teeth have fallen out. Some people are also just more likely to develop cavities or decay than others, purely because of genetics, causing their teeth to be more susceptible to the type of bacteria that is associated with cavities. Being a regular smoker can also vastly increase your chances of losing teeth throughout your life. For the majority of the population, losing teeth can be prevented through proper dental hygiene and regularly scheduled check-ups with a dentist to ensure that there is no decay being left untreated and that there is no need for other dental interventions.

Even just missing one tooth can lead to serious oral health issues if left untreated as over time the surrounding teeth will migrate to fill in the gap that has been left behind. Even just waiting too long after a tooth falls out to have some sort of dental implant placed to fill the gap can lead to significant drifting of the other teeth, so it is best to have it treated right away. Some of the treatment options available to replace or fill in that gap left behind include receiving a dental implant to just fully replace the missing tooth, a fixed or resin-retained bridge which is just used in between the remaining teeth to prevent them from filling in the new gap, a removable complete or removable partial denture. The most effective treatment to restore the bite and appearance of the smile is through a dental implant, as this course of treatment will provide a permanent restoration to the bite and when using high-quality materials, can hide the fact that a tooth was ever even lost.

Having one or more missing teeth just simply through genetics (the adult tooth never grew in after the baby tooth fell out) is quite common, affecting around 20% of the population. Having anywhere from 1 to 6 missing teeth can be characterized as having a condition called hypodontia, which is a congenital condition. It is far less common to have more than one missing tooth, with only 5% of the population missing 2 or more and becomes even less common with more teeth being missing. While it is likely due to a congenital condition to never have certain adult teeth grow in, if the teeth grow in completely and then fall at some point throughout adulthood, this is slightly less common and should be addressed quickly by a dental professional to assess for any oral health conditions or other underlying conditions that may be leading to severe decay or gum disease.

While the most effective option for replacing a missing or lost tooth is through a dental implant, this treatment can be fairly expensive and is a permanent surgical procedure, which may not be the best option for everyone. There are several removable options available, such as a partial denture that fits into the mouth among the remaining teeth and can be removed whenever for ease of cleaning or comfort. Another option for less invasive treatments to replace teeth includes dental bridges, which involve the shaving down of the remaining teeth located on either side of where the missing tooth previously was to fit the bridge on top. The bridge will have three artificial teeth, the two outer teeth that are fitted on top of the remaining teeth with a snug fit and where will be permanently anchored into the mouth, and the center tooth being the replacement for the one that is missing. There are other options available but it will be up to you and your dentist to determine which option will be best suited to fit your requirements and budget.

Missing teeth have an effect on the beauty of your smile and general look. It also has a negative impact on your self-esteem. Furthermore, missing teeth not only cause aesthetic issues but also compromise the normal operation of your teeth. For more information about our services, please contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 738 FM 1092 Rd, Stafford, TX 77477. We serve patients from Stafford TX, Meadows Place TX, Missouri City TX, Sugar Land TX, Fifth Street TX, Dewalt TX, and Trammels TX.