You have a gap in the back of your mouth where a tooth should be. It’s not really noticeable when you smile, though, so is a tooth replacement worth it?
Yes, absolutely! You see, the problem is that your back molars aren’t 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!
Chewing and Nutrition
The primary purpose of your molars – that is, the teeth farthest back in your mouth – is to chew your food. Now, you might be thinking, “Obviously!”, but did you know proper chewing is crucial for your digestion and nutrition?
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’re able to absorb the nutrients in your food! At best, this can trigger vitamin deficiencies; at worst, you can develop symptoms of malnutrition.
Premature Dental Erosion
Your mouth is a precise instrument with a very particular design. When the pieces – in other words, your teeth – don’t line up quite right or aren’t positioned a certain way, it significantly changes how physical stress is transferred.
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 “customer-facing” teeth. You’ll see some noticeable cosmetic changes then!
Jawbone Atrophy
Believe it or not, it’s 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.
If the bone doesn’t receive this stimulation because there isn’t 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.
Your Dental Replacement Options
After all is said and done, it’s 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:
- Dental bridge: a minimalistic prosthetic that can “bridge” a row of one or more gaps.
- Dentures: a full set is what most are used to seeing, but you can get partial dentures as well.
- Dental implant: the most comprehensive option from an oral health standpoint, since they’re the only replacement capable of preventing jawbone atrophy.
Figuring out which treatment is best for you and your smile will depend on your personal preferences and dental habits. So be sure to consult with your dentist to get a professional opinion!
About the Practice
Drs. Jason Herres and Vincent Votilla are both highly qualified and experienced dentists. Between Dr. Herres’ impressive career as a dentist for the U.S. navy and Dr. Votilla’s exceptional advanced training, you can be rest assured that your replacement tooth will look and feel outstanding! To contact their office, call 717-569-3911.