Consequences of Missing Several Teeth

Your teeth are held in place by their roots in the jawbone. Tooth decay, disease, or trauma may have caused the loss of several teeth. Immediately after tooth loss, the jawbone will begin to resorb or shrink. Over time, the ridge of the jawbone becomes much thinner, limiting the options and possibilities of tooth replacement.

The remaining teeth no longer have the support that the lost teeth and bone provided. With no support, the teeth begin to drift and erupt toward the open areas. The overload can move and weaken those teeth, possibly leading to additional tooth loss.

How much bone loss and drifting will by person, depending on many factors such as which teeth are missing, and the individual’s health, and many other factors. If several teeth are missing, a lot of space is created and may allow significant drifting and bone loss.

When teeth drift and erupt, gum disease may start to form, as it becomes harder and harder to properly clean your teeth and gums. Gum disease can lead to sensitivity and pain, making it even harder to brush and clean properly, and can also lead to tooth decay, gum recession, and even further tooth loss.

Significant bone loss can complicate the possibilities of replacing teeth, but technologies have been developed in order to make dental implants possible, even in cases with severe bone loss. Bone preservation techniques help preserve the jaw bone and prevent shrinkage in order to make dental implant placement possible.

If you are missing several teeth, there are a few different treatment options such as a partial denture, a traditional bridge, or a dental implant supported bridge. Here is a Treatment Comparison of those options. Many patients qualify for Teeth in an Hour ™ or Smile in a Day™ treatments. In cases where the bone recession has occurred in the upper jaw bone, it is possible that the sinus cavities could drop into the spaces below. If the sinus/es drop, a Sinus Lift can be performed to return the sinus to its proper location, once again making it possible to place dental implants in the bone. If you are missing, or will be missing all of the teeth on an arch (all upper or all lower teeth), then All-on-Four™ dental implants may be the best option for you.

Call or Email to Set Up Your Dental Implants Appointment

If you would like to discuss your options for the replacement of one or more missing teeth, contact our dental implants NYC / Long Island offices today by calling our offices or clicking here. Our highly educated dentists will conduct a thorough consultation, during which they will evaluate your dental structures and recommend the best teeth restoration procedures for you. All of our dentists are also highly experienced New York periodontists with extensive experience in treating complex gum diseases.