Tooth Loss

Tooth loss is one of the traumatic events in anyone's life. A tooth is a living organ; an it's loss is a loss of an organ; albeit a small organ.
The effects of tooth loss are far reaching and contrary to popular belief; loss of one tooth (except wisdom teeth perhaps) can cause a cascade of events that alters the harmony of dental functions.

Let's first list the functions of teeth:
1. Biting and chewing food.
2. Speech.
3. Aesthetic functions.
4. Preserving the integrity of the jaw bone.

Tooth loss can affect some or all of the mentioned functions depending on the type and number of teeth lost.
1. Biting and chewing: It has been proven that the loss of one molar reduces the chewing efficiency by 10%. If you have one or more molars missing on one side of your mouth for example; you would find yourself chewing on the side with most molars present as the food is chewed more effectively when there is a larger surface to grind it.
If you have one or more of your front teeth missing; your biting shifts to the side with more incisors; you start biting on one side, or just cut your food into small pieces to be able to chew.
Indigestion and stomach problems could develop as a result of swallowing partially chewed food as your chewing capacity reduces; which further complicates your choice of food. Hence; the fewer the number of natural teeth you have; the more selective and limited you become in your choice of food.
Remember; if you even have false teeth; for example a part denture to restore some of your missing teeth; you would find that in most cases; you prefer to chew on your own teeth as you can feel the texture of the food better.

2.Speech: Loss of one molar would not affect your speech much; but the more teeth you lose; the more your speech would suffer; especially when you lose a front tooth. Just see how it affects the speech of children when they start losing their front baby teeth. And remember that false teeth- unless they are fixed- would alter your speech even more initially until you get used to them.

3. Aesthetics: Tooth loss can alter the appearance dramatically; as you lose back teeth; you start smiling less to hide the gaps which appear when you smile fully. The effect is more dramatic when you lose front teeth of course. Losing many molar teeth will reduce the support to your cheek muscles and will cause them to sag in producing an aged appearance.
Furthermore; when you lose back teeth; you start chewing on the front teeth; as these teeth are not designed for chewing (thin enamel and small roots); they start to wear down rapidly; or change position (move forward creating spacing and buck-tooth appearance). Wear causes your upper and lower jaws to move closer together when you close your mouth; therefore creating an aged appearance. Movement could cause looseness of the teeth and their eventual loss due to overloading.
4. Preservation of the jaw bone's integrity: The jaw bone is present to support healthy teeth; when teeth are lost, the supporting part of the jaw bone disappears. This process is progressive and does not stop; it is more rapid in the first 6 months after tooth loss; however it continues at a slower pace over time. When the supporting bone reduces in volume; replacing the missing tooth or teeth with an artificial restoration becomes more and more difficult; and sometimes; sadly; impossible. Take for instance full denture wearers; some of whom have to endure the movement of a loose denture as the jaw bone is so small that nothing could be done to make their teeth more retentive.
Also; when the jawbone reduces in volume; it alters facial appearance dramatically.

Effects of tooth loss could be summarised as:

1. Physical effects: Alteration of chewing ability and speech. In some cases indigestion; stomach problems and malnutrition. Headaches and clicking of the jaw joint are not uncommon as the harmony of the whole dentition is altered leading to tooth movement and the creation of an uneven bite. This leads to jaw joint dysfunction which brings about clicking; headaches and migraines.

2. Psychological effects: Tooth loss causes people to be continuously conscious of their appearance and their reduced chewing ability. The psychological trauma of tooth loss could in some cases lead to clinical depression. Due to the effect on facial appearance, the diminished ability to smile fully with confidence; and altered dietary habits; some people do not socialise often and become reclusive.

Recent advances in preventive and restorative dentistry has made the prevention of tooth loss possible; and if teeth are lost for one reason or the other; the replacement teeth could be as natural as possible; and as durable as possible. This is fantastic news for those who are losing or lost their teeth and would love to eat comfortably and smile again with confidence!

In the next posting; I will discuss the traditional and most up to date methods for replacing missing teeth. The science and technology has improved so much so that even if you are missing all your teeth; you can have fixed teeth in one day!

Thank You for reading and see you next time!

Sam Mohamed