Missing teeth
Missing teeth will have physiological and psychological effects
Missing teeth can lead to reduced eating/ chewing efficiency, change in chewing pattern, which can further lead to untoward forces being exerted onto the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which can lead to TMPDS (TemporoMandibular Pain Dysfunction Syndrome).
Since the occlusal balance is lost when a tooth / teeth is extracted, it can lead to migration of adjoining / opposing teeth towards the gap. This can further lead to untoward forces exerted on teeth adjoining the gap and can lead to cracked tooth syndrome, which will lead to further loss of teeth. In simple words, loss of tooth/teeth will have knock on effect on neighbouring and opposing teeth.
There is also one major consequence due to loss of tooth/ teeth – the alveolar jaw bone that supports the tooth collapses, because the root acts as a scaffold. The loss of this scaffold results in collapse and shrinkage of jaw bone.
Missing teeth can lead to loss of confidence in eating, smiling/ socialising. It can at times lead to depressive illness.
Of all available replacement options, dental implants seem be the closest one to nature. Other options to replace teeth are dentures/ partial dentures (removable ones) and bridges (this involves filing down of adjacent tooth/ teeth).
