Missing Teeth: Implant, Bridge or Denture?

Why the gap matters

What happens if I do not replace a missing tooth?

It is tempting to leave a gap alone, particularly a back tooth that nobody sees. Over months and years, though, the gap tends to cause problems of its own:

• Teeth drift. Neighbouring teeth slowly lean towards the empty space and the opposing tooth can over-erupt, altering how your teeth meet.
• Food traps. The new angles create tight corners where food and plaque collect, raising the risk of decay and gum disease in the teeth next door.
• Bone shrinks. Without a root to stimulate it, the jawbone under the gap gradually thins, which can make an implant harder to place later.
• Chewing shifts. You start favouring the other side, putting extra load on those teeth.

People are usually keen to replace a front tooth straight away. A lost molar is easier to live with, yet it is often the one that upsets the bite more over time. Either way, replacing a tooth sooner usually keeps treatment simpler.

Protect what you have

Lowering the risk of losing more teeth

Once one tooth has gone, the priority is keeping the rest. A few habits do most of the work:

• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth every day, particularly around a bridge, implant or denture.
• Book regular check-ups and cleans, which is when early decay and gum disease are picked up.
• Protect your teeth with a custom mouthguard for contact sport, and a night guard if you grind.
• Save sweet drinks and snacks for mealtimes, and consider quitting smoking, which is linked to gum disease, slower healing and implant problems.
• Have a loose, sore or cracked tooth checked promptly rather than waiting.