Waiting too long to replace a missing tooth can eventually cause adjacent teeth to drift enough that problems such as crowding occur. Teeth growing into the gap of a missing tooth can make contact, which can cause uncomfortable pressure and create tight spaces between the teeth and gums.
Ultimately, teeth may become crooked or new gaps may appear between teeth. Another issue that may occur is super-eruption. The tooth that opposes the site of the missing tooth may start to grow out from its position because it no longer has the opposing tooth to resist it.
Having one missing tooth, or even two missing teeth, shouldn't be a big deal, right? Wrong. Any number of missing teeth can cause serious oral and overall health issues. Ultimately, tooth loss begets more tooth loss.
Is it Necessary to Replace Missing Teeth? Tooth replacement is in your best interest and highly recommended. As soon as you replace a missing tooth, you improve the overall health of your mouth. The space left by a missing tooth negatively affects your nutrition, the surrounding teeth, and your jawbone.
Tooth loss does more than impact the appeal of your smile, especially if you lose your front tooth. It affects your ability to eat and chew properly, as well as how you communicate. It may also lead to confidence issues and low self-esteem. Missing teeth can lead to a myriad of problems if left untreated.
Tooth loss provides an opening for bacteria to enter your gums, leading to inflammation, infection, and gum disease. Gum disease can damage the connective tissues and bones supporting your teeth, causing them to become loose and eventually fall out.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by age 50, most Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth. So while permanent tooth loss can occur at any age as an adult, significant averages in partial and total tooth loss tend to occur in people aged 50 years old and above.
Feeling embarrassed by missing teeth is very common, but even if you're missing one, two, or more teeth, you're absolutely not alone. In fact, it's more rare to reach adulthood with all your teeth intact.
You can live without one or two teeth without major consequences, but losing several teeth at once requires the jawbone to be reshaped to prepare for a dental bridge or dentures. There is no clear rule on the number of teeth that can safely be extracted in one sitting.
It would be best to replace missing teeth as soon as possible to prevent tooth shifting. However, if you have a tooth extracted, it is advised to wait four to six months to have the tooth replaced. All in all, this interval gives your gums time to heal before performing another operation.
Dental implants are the preferred method of replacing missing teeth. A metal post is put in place of the root, and an artificial tooth that looks and feels natural replaces the missing tooth. The process takes some time because the implant will fuse to the jawbone.
Once you have all of your teeth pulled, your dentist will place the dentures and provide you with instructions on what you need to do while your mouth gets used to their shape.
Adults 20 to 64 years have an average of 25.5 remaining teeth.
Seniors 65 years and older have an average of 20.7 remaining teeth. Older seniors, Black and Hispanic seniors, current smokers, and those with lower incomes and less education have fewer remaining teeth.
Researchers estimate that as many as 20 percent of adults are born with at least one missing tooth, making hypodontia one of the most common developmental oral health conditions. Most individuals are missing only one or two permanent teeth, with very few missing more than six.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by age 50, most Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth. The full adult dentition consists of 32 teeth. That means by age 50 you can expect to have 37% fewer teeth.
The most common missing teeth are wisdom teeth, upper lateral incisors, and second premolars/bicuspids.
Average Teeth Per Age Group
For Americans aged between 20 and 34, the average is just under 27 teeth (26.90) remaining. By the time you hit 49 years, you are feasibly down to 25.05 teeth on average. Once you get to 64, you are pretty average if you have around 22 (22.30) teeth still in your mouth.
Children usually lose their first tooth around 5 or 6 years old. But every child is unique. Some will lose their first tooth as early as 4 years old or as late as 7 years old.
In all these cases, researchers concluded that depression and anxiety were related to tooth loss. Poor self confidence, poor diet and pain are often the unfortunate consequences of tooth loss that can result in depression.
Damage below the gumline – A severe crack or split below your gumline may make it impossible for a dentist to save the tooth. Severe trauma – Fractured tooth roots or extensive damage may make it challenging for a dentist to save your tooth.
Periodontal disease is the most common cause of tooth loss among adults.
Nearly 1 in 5 of adults aged 65 or older have lost all of their teeth.
How many teeth can I have extracted at once? There is no limit to the number of teeth you can have extracted at once. While having multiple teeth extracted during the same procedure is rare, it is sometimes the only option for patients with severe tooth decay.
If you're missing all your teeth, dental implants are the optimal choice for restoring your mouth to full functionality. Dental implants are the modern standard of care for tooth replacement—no matter if it's one tooth or all your teeth. Without teeth, there are no tooth roots in the jawbone to stimulate bone growth.