Why Should Missing Teeth Be Treated?

Tooth loss refers to the gap that forms in the mouth when one or more teeth are lost due to decay, gum disease, trauma or other reasons. This gap is not merely a matter of appearance; it can create a situation that also concerns chewing function, the position of neighboring teeth and the long-term health of the jawbone.

Uzm. Dt. Emre Karakaya works on the assessment of tooth loss and treatment planning within his work in periodontology and oral surgery. The headings below have been prepared to give a general overview of the gap left by a missing tooth, what may be seen if it is left untreated and the available treatment options; the content is intended for general information and is not a substitute for a personal examination.

What Gap Does a Missing Tooth Leave?

The teeth in the mouth work in a certain balance with one another and with the teeth in the opposing jaw. Each tooth receives support both from the neighboring teeth beside it and from the opposing tooth it contacts when biting; this balance contributes to distributing chewing forces across the mouth. When a tooth is lost, the contact points in this arrangement change and a functional gap appears in the area.

The resulting gap is not only a cosmetic issue. In the region of the missing tooth, chewing often tends to shift to the other side, in some cases speech and the breaking down of food may be affected, and cleaning the areas around the gap can become more difficult. The degree of these effects varies according to the number of missing teeth, their location and the person's overall oral health.

What May Be Seen If Left Untreated

When tooth loss is not addressed for a long time, the teeth neighboring the gap may over time tend to tilt or drift toward this area. Likewise, a tooth in the opposing jaw that no longer meets a partner in the bite may extend toward the gap (over-eruption). These positional changes can affect the contact relationships between teeth and the arrangement of the bite (occlusion).

When the chewing stimulus that the tooth root transmits to the jawbone is removed, the bone in that area may over time tend toward shrinkage (resorption); this process can also influence later treatment options. In addition, plaque accumulation and cleaning difficulty may increase around tilted teeth, and the chewing load may concentrate on the remaining teeth. The likelihood and pace of these changes vary from person to person and can only be assessed through examination.

An Overview of Treatment Options

The main approaches to addressing tooth loss are fixed bridges, removable dentures and implant applications; which option is suitable varies according to the size of the gap, the condition of the neighboring teeth and the quality of the jawbone. A dental implant is based on a titanium screw that is placed in the jawbone in place of the root of the lost tooth and onto which a prosthetic superstructure is applied. General information about this method is covered on the implant surgery page.

The fusion of the implant with the jawbone is called osseointegration, and the completion of this biological process requires a certain amount of time. Each method has its own suitable situations, along with aspects and points that need to be considered; comparing the options and determining the one appropriate for the individual is done after a clinical examination and radiological assessment.

Assessment and Planning

Treatment planning begins with a detailed clinical examination and, where needed, radiological imaging; the volume and quality of the jawbone can in some cases be evaluated with three-dimensional imaging (CBCT). Having gum health in a suitable condition is important for the long-term course of the chosen method. In cases where an implant is being considered, general information about the stages of the process is described in the article on the dental implant treatment process.

After treatment is completed, regular dental check-ups and effective oral care play an important role in maintaining the result; general recommendations for care in areas where an implant has been placed are addressed in the article on implant aftercare. Which treatment is suitable, the expected course and the process vary from person to person; consult your dentist for accurate information.