It's common for adults to lose a back molar, often to gum disease, tooth decay, or injury. Since back molars don't affect the overall appearance of your smile, you might be tempted to skip replacing it. That's not the best idea. Missing a tooth, even just one, can cause severe and permanent damage to your entire mouth.
Back Molars Preserve Jaw Bone Density
If you lack one or more back molars, the jaw bone won't have enough stimulation from chewing and it will produce insufficient new bone mass to replace the bone that is naturally broken down.
By the time you've had several fillings, crowns, and attempts at a root canal, there won't be enough tooth structure left to support a long-lasting crown. In these cases, teeth generally cannot be, or are not worth, saving and should be removed and replaced with a dental implant.
After you undergo a tooth extraction, you will need to replace the missing tooth or teeth. If the teeth are not replaced, the bones in your mouth can weaken and lose density. Other teeth also might shift, and you might experience trouble eating.
A knocked-out adult tooth can usually be saved by putting it back in place or in milk as soon as possible, before seeing a dentist.
If a molar is only half-broken, it can usually be fixed in one of two ways. If the break is relatively minor and the edges are still intact, your dentist may be able to bond the broken pieces back together. If the damage is more severe, they may need to use a dental crown or filling material to cover the break.
hold it by the crown (the white bit that sticks out of the gum) lick the tooth clean if it's dirty, or rinse it in water.
Yes, it is possible to lose a molar tooth and avoid problems with biting and chewing. However, a missing molar has the potential to cause problems with chewing food on the affected side of your mouth, and may also lead to receding gums.
Usually, when a tooth is removed by a dentist, the roots are taken out with it. However, if the tooth is lost through accident or decay, the root or roots may be retained within the jawbone and gums, causing problems such as mouth infections and pain. If this is the case, the roots need to be surgically removed.
As you can imagine, if you're missing molars, it's much more difficult to chew foods. Vegetables, fruits, and other crunchy or tough foods may be difficult to eat. A soft food diet might be necessary simply given your limitations when it comes to chewing. This is why replacement options are so important in these cases.
If you have an injured, decayed, or loose tooth, your dentist will do everything possible to save your natural tooth. Unfortunately, it's not always possible, in which case, the tooth will need to be extracted.
While it is always preferable to save a tooth, there are times when extraction is a better option. When a tooth is cracked, especially if it is cracked below the gumline, or in several places, an extraction may be required. If the tooth is too weak to be restored, it may also be best to have it pulled.
Minimize Bone Loss
Your dentist will work hard to save your natural teeth before removing or extracting them in order to preserve as much jaw bone strength as possible. The effects of jaw bone loss include sunken cheeks, misaligned bite, change in facial appearance, and difficulty chewing and talking.
If a back tooth is lost, you will surely miss it. A lost back tooth can affect your overall dental health, may cause bone loss and can even change your facial shape. Dental tooth implants should be used to replace a lost back tooth for maintaining good dental health.
If you've lost one of your back teeth, you may not be in a hurry to replace it. After all, it's not easily visible.
Once your tooth is removed, the socket is cleaned and disinfected. In some cases, your dentist may also place a dental bone graft, which helps prevent bone loss in your jaw. Finally, stitches may be placed to help promote healing.
Untreated broken molars can cause infection, abscess, and nerve damage. Bacteria from this contamination can also infect your jaw bone, surrounding teeth, and gums. If you need to fix your broken molar, schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in West Des Moines today!
If the entire top of the tooth is broken off but the root is still intact, the dentist or an endodontist (a dentist who specializes in root canals) may perform root canal therapy and place a pin or a post in the canal, and then build up enough of a structure onto which a crown can be made.
The main effect of tooth fragments left in place is dental infections. Bacteria can cause abscesses and swellings in and around the fragments, leading to systemic problems such as Ludwig's angina.
Consequences of Not Replacing Your Back Tooth
Missing a tooth, even just one, can cause severe and permanent damage to your entire mouth. When you lose a back molar, its surrounding teeth are also impacted because they lose surrounding structure and support. Unfortunately, this causes your other back teeth to shift.
Dental implants can be an appropriate treatment for the loss of a back molar. The implant serves as an artificial tooth root and supports a prosthetic crown to stand in for the missing molar.
Unless the empty place left by your missing molar is filled with a denture or implant, the surrounding teeth can shift and become misaligned. Misaligned teeth cause more than a cosmetic headache. They also increase your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, occlusion issues, and additional tooth loss.
Losing a permanent tooth can be detrimental to your oral health. Not only does it affect the aesthetics of your smile, but it can also lead to problems with eating and speaking. Additionally, losing a permanent tooth can cause neighboring teeth to shift, leading to additional dental problems.
Among adults from 35 to 44-years-old, 69 percent have lost at least one permanent tooth. By age 50, Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth (including wisdom teeth). And among adults 65 to 74, 26 percent have lost all their teeth.
A dead tooth can stay in your mouth for up to several days or months; however, keeping a dead tooth may lead to problems with your jaw and also result in the spreading of decay and bacteria to other teeth. Most dentists will recommend having the dead tooth extracted and replaced with a denture, bridge, or implant.