If my tooth falls out, it won't affect my eating. Do I need to fill it up?
Source：Pujing Dental ClinicUpdated on：2023-10-17
Statistics show that for every four people with missing teeth, one is a young person, and tooth loss is not just a problem that elderly people encounter
A recent epidemiological survey showed that the tooth loss rate among middle-aged and young people aged 25-44 is between 23% and 25%. Do you know what changes will occur in our oral cavity after long-term tooth loss?
After long-term tooth loss, the adjacent teeth on both sides begin to tilt towards the missing area, and the teeth in the opposite jaw begin to elongate. Finally, not only does it affect aesthetics, but it can also cause other dental hazards.
1. Aged face
Teeth play a crucial role in maintaining the appearance of the face, especially the front teeth, which have a significant impact on facial aesthetics. Missing front teeth can make people appear less youthful and energetic, making them appear more aging. In addition, when most or all of the teeth are missing, the cheeks lose support and sag inward, causing the lips to no longer be plump. The facial folds increase, the nasolabial sulcus deepens, the corners of the mouth sag, and the face will show significant aging.
2. Gastrointestinal involvement
After tooth loss, the first symptom is a decrease in chewing function, which is related to the location and quantity of missing teeth. Missing front teeth can affect biting off food, while missing rear teeth can affect grinding food. After the chewing function is reduced, food that has not been fully ground or mashed will directly enter the gastrointestinal tract, which will greatly increase the burden on the digestive system and also affect the absorption of nutrients. In the long run, it may even cause digestive system diseases. In addition, if all teeth are missing, it will be difficult to achieve strong lip closure, and swallowing food will also become difficult.
3. The remaining teeth are affected
After teeth are missing, the task of chewing falls on other teeth. At the same time, due to the presence of gaps in the missing teeth, adjacent teeth also lose restraint and support, which greatly increases the burden on the remaining teeth. If left untreated for a long time, it may cause tilting of adjacent teeth and elongation of the teeth in contact with them, leading to caries and periodontal disease, further exacerbating the damage to the remaining teeth. When the number of remaining teeth is small, due to their excessive bite force, it will cause rapid loss of alveolar bone, leading to tooth loosening or even detachment. The longer and more teeth are missing, the greater the impact on the remaining teeth.
4. Pronunciation is unclear
Missing teeth, especially front teeth, can cause unclear pronunciation, commonly known as "leaking words". Unclear pronunciation can have a significant impact on patients' communication activities and even affect their mental health.
5. Jaw joint injury
After tooth loss, patients may develop a habit of chewing only on the other side due to reduced chewing function on the missing tooth side. In addition, after a large number of missing teeth or a long period of missing teeth, occlusal interference may occur due to the inclination and elongation of the remaining teeth, resulting in chaotic occlusal relationships. These can all affect the stability of the temporomandibular joint and cause joint damage.
Therefore, after tooth loss, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible and seek timely treatment according to the dentist's recommendations.
There are three options for restoring missing teeth:
1. The principle of removable dentures is to stabilize the denture by hooking the remaining teeth with a "snap ring", and rely on artificial teeth to repair the teeth. Applicable population: Suitable for all populations with missing teeth.
2. Porcelain veneers are the most widely used method for restoring missing teeth in clinical medicine. Advantages: Comfortable and beautiful, sturdy and durable.
3. Dental implantation is based on the structure below the implanted bone tissue to support and retain the upper teeth. Dental implantation is widely recognized as the preferred method for repairing missing teeth worldwide. Advantages: Beautiful appearance, almost functional like real teeth, high cost-effectiveness, and excellent chewing power.
For patients with missing teeth, which type of repair method is needed depends on your alveolar bone condition.
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