{"id":93,"date":"2024-09-04T14:39:23","date_gmt":"2024-09-04T14:39:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentistryforlife.com\/blog\/?p=93"},"modified":"2024-09-06T14:44:12","modified_gmt":"2024-09-06T14:44:12","slug":"should-i-replace-missing-back-tooth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dentistryforlife.com\/blog\/?p=93","title":{"rendered":"Should I Replace a Missing Back Tooth?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Man<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You have a gap in the back of your mouth where a tooth should be. It\u2019s not really noticeable when you smile, though, so is a tooth replacement<\/a> worth it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, absolutely! You see, the problem is that your back molars aren\u2019t just for show. Any empty space along your dental lineup can negatively affect your oral health, and missing an unseen pearly white comes with some unique challenges. Keep reading to find out what they are and learn more about your options!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Chewing and Nutrition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The primary purpose of your molars \u2013 that is, the teeth farthest back in your mouth \u2013 is to chew your food. Now, you might be thinking, \u201cObviously!\u201d, but did you know proper chewing is crucial for your digestion and nutrition?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As your molars bite your food down to size, salivary enzymes mix in, preparing it for digestion. Missing even one molar can throw this process off-balance, affecting how well you\u2019re able to absorb the nutrients in your food! At best, this can trigger vitamin deficiencies; at worst, you can develop symptoms of malnutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Premature Dental Erosion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your mouth is a precise instrument with a very particular design. When the pieces \u2013 in other words, your teeth \u2013 don\u2019t line up quite right or aren\u2019t positioned a certain way, it significantly changes how physical stress is transferred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An M.I.A. molar can cause you to shift your bite and where you do most of your chewing, usually forward. Ultimately, this new balance in pressure can result in excessive wear that prematurely erodes your more \u201ccustomer-facing\u201d teeth. You\u2019ll see some noticeable cosmetic changes then!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jawbone Atrophy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Believe it or not, it\u2019s possible for your jawbone to deteriorate over time as well. Though this typically only occurs as a direct result of dental gaps. You see, each and every tooth in your mouth is connected to your jawbone via a dental root. When you bite or chew, signals are transferred from the nerves inside your teeth to the roots, and on down through the jawbone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the bone doesn\u2019t receive this stimulation because there isn\u2019t a tooth in place, it recedes around your gaps. Unfortunately, as your jawbone weakens, your remaining pearly whites can fall out due to lack of support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Dental Replacement Options<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After all is said and done, it\u2019s simply better and more cost-effective to replace missing teeth with a prosthetic, even if that tooth is a back molar. Here are some of your options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n