What Happens If You Leave Missing Teeth Untreated?

Leaving a gap in your smile will have widespread consequences for your wider oral health, not to mention the impact it could have on your confidence. A missing tooth in a visible place could impact your self-image, leaving you unwilling to smile fully around others.

In this short guide, we’re looking at the impact on your long-term health if you leave a missing tooth untreated. We’ll also briefly explore the options available to you if you decide to address the gap in your smile.

What happens when you lose a tooth?

Losing a tooth will leave a hole in your jaw bone that takes some time to heal. First, the gum will heal over the gap, and then the bone will slowly begin to close the gap over time. It usually takes around 3-6 months before the bone fully regenerates to close the gap.

In the early stages of healing, patients are at risk of a condition known as a dry socket. This occurs when a blood clot fails to form or is dislodged from the gap, leaving the bone and the nerve exposed. Antibiotics and a dressing are often required to help the socket to heal.

Once the jaw bone has regenerated, the teeth next to the gap may shift to occupy the spot. If you have had a tooth extracted to address overcrowding, you might then start orthodontic treatment to help move the teeth into the correct alignment, which will close the gap.

Without orthodontics, your teeth may still move to occupy the space, but the alignment might be problematic.

Common issues following tooth loss

If you leave a gap in your smile and don’t use orthodontics to close the gap, you can expect to come up against some of the following issues.

• The surrounding teeth can move out of alignment as they lose their support. Teeth aren’t just supported by the jaw bone and gums, but also by surrounding teeth. Without this support, teeth may shift at an angle, leading to an uneven bite. This can make it difficult to chew comfortably, leading to pain in your jaw and digestive problems.

• The opposing teeth can also suffer as a result of a gap in the smile. Without a tooth to push against when you chew, the opposite tooth can become loose. The force of your bite works to stimulate the bone, and without use, it may become weaker.

• If you are missing a molar, you will likely start to favour chewing on the other side of your mouth. This will lead to uneven wear, and you might face more issues with damage to the chewing surfaces of your teeth on the opposite side of your mouth.

• The jaw bone may start to shrink at the site of the tooth loss. This is a result of the gap in your teeth, and also because of a change in use. With bone loss, this can impact the health of the surrounding teeth, leaving them exposed and less protected against damage.

• Your confidence may also be impacted by tooth loss, particularly if the tooth is visible when you smile. You might find that you are less confident in different areas of your life, including in romantic, social and professional settings. This can have a widespread impact on your mental health.

What can be done for missing teeth?

If you’re dealing with a gap in your smile, there are lots of options available, including dental implants, bridges and dentures. Get in touch with our team to arrange an appointment to discuss your options.