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The Dan­gers of Leav­ing a Miss­ing Tooth Not Replaced

A gap in your smile might impact your con­fi­dence, but beyond the aes­thet­ic issues, is there any­thing wrong with fail­ing to replace a tooth after it has been extract­ed? You might be sur­prised to learn about the poten­tial impact of leav­ing a gap in your teeth. Extract­ing a tooth is often a last resort to help pro­tect your oral health, and your den­tist will often advise you to fol­low up for restora­tive options.

In some situations, it might be possible to leave the gap in your smile without any consequences, but this is rare. In most cases, leaving a gap in your smile will lead to long-term complications. Let’s explore these in more detail.

What happens when you leave a gap in your smile?

If the missing tooth is at the front of your mouth, you’ll suffer from the obvious knock to your confidence. A large gap in your smile can make you reluctant to smile without hiding your mouth which can make you appear very self conscious. This can have a widespread impact on your confidence at work, in social settings and in relationships.

Another impact of a gap at the front of your mouth is the potential for speech problems. You could develop a lisp as a result of the gap, which can further impact your confidence.

For teeth at the rear of your mouth, you might be less inclined to replace them as they aren’t as visible. This means you might not experience the same blow to your confidence. However, there are other potential complications from not replacing a gap in your premolars or molars.

The surrounding teeth can become damaged by the lack of support. They might move into the gap left by the tooth, leading to unusual angles and gaps along your gum line which can lead to plaque buildup.

The opposing teeth can also suffer, as they will have nothing to push against when you bite. This can lead them to become looser and eventually fall out.

If you are unable to chew on one side of your mouth, you might favour the other side. This will lead to uneven wear in your teeth and could even cause jaw problems as one side of your jaw will be stronger than the other.

Your jawbone can also be damaged by gaps in your smile. When the jaw bone isn’t in use, it will recede and lose bone density. This can impact the support for remaining teeth and change the shape of your face leading to asymmetry.

When is it ok to leave a gap in your smile?

There are some situations where it might be acceptable to leave a gap. This includes when you have lost a tooth right at the back of your mouth. In this case, it might not have an impact on your chewing or your facial structure, so it would be safe to leave the gap.

Another instance when it would be safe to leave a gap in your smile would be when you have overcrowding and you plan to start orthodontic treatment. Your teeth can be repositioned to close the gap in your smile and it might even be healthier to do this.

What are your options for replacement?

A dental bridge is the most common and accessible option for replacing a missing tooth. An artificial tooth is supported on either side by two dental crowns. These crowns fit on your surrounding teeth and allow you to chew normally again. If you’ve noticed any speech changes as a result of your missing tooth, this should also be corrected when you replace the tooth.

You could also explore a removable partial denture, which may attach to the surrounding teeth with small metal clips. This removable option will offer more flexibility than a fixed bridge and might be easier for you to clean.

And finally, you could also consider a dental implant. This is the most advanced and modern choice for replacing a missing tooth. This treatment uses an artificial titanium root that is placed in the jaw bone to support a crown.

Not sure which is the right choice for you? Book an appointment with our team to learn your options for replacing a missing tooth after tooth loss or extraction.