You’re not alone if you’ve had a back tooth pulled or removed due to decay, disease or trauma. 3 in 4 adults in the UK have had a tooth extracted.
And as many extractions happen with the back molars, some patients wonder why replacing their missing rear tooth is essential if it’s not visible when they smile.
Well, as dentists dedicated to missing teeth, we’re here to tell you bone loss, gum shrinkage, and further tooth loss can be a consequence of ignoring gaps, whether in the back or front.
Dental implants
Replacing a back tooth with a dental implant is surprisingly affordable and is considered the best option. See costs and benefits.
Dental bridges
A dental bridge is traditionally a popular option if you have teeth on either side of your gap. Discover costs and limits.
Partial dentures
Partial dentures are the cheapest back tooth replacement, but there are more favourable options for speaking and chewing. See costs.
Consequences
Learn the potential and eventual problems you can develop by refusing to have a missing back tooth replaced. Take me there.
The best ways to replace a tooth - broken down:
Explore benefits, limitations and costs of replacing a missing back tooth…
Single Implant
- Including crown £2,450
- Available on 0% finance
Dental implants are a superior tooth replacement option that benefits your oral health in the long term. Acting as an artificial tooth root, it’s incredibly strong and is the closest prosthetic to natural teeth.
Dental implants are not always covered by dental insurance, and is the most costly tooth replacement. However, many patients declare they are worth the money.
Dental Bridge
- Porcelain-fused to metal £695
- Zirconia/Emax £695
Dental bridges prevent teeth from shifting and are more affordable to place and can last up to 15 years (half the time of implants)/
Partial Denture
- Partial denture from £350
- Cobalt chrome from £850
The cheapest ways to close gaps in the mouth and require no bone to support their stability but rather suction or adhesive.
Since there’s nothing to stimulate the bone, teeth shift and put stress on adjacent teeth, weakening them over time. Plus, denture wearers often complain of speech and chewing capabilities as well as the fact the upper palate is covered and uncomfortable.
Dental implants are available on 0% finance for 12 months, equalling to £204.17 per month. If you want to get dental implants as low as £56.97pm, patients can apply for 60 months (interest-bearing 14.9%).
Ignoring gaps has consequences
Gum disease, tooth decay and injury are all common reasons adults lose a back molar – and as back molars don’t directly affect the appearance of your smile, it can be very tempting to just forget about it. But implant dentist Dr Koyi would urge that this is not the best idea for the future of your oral stability and health.
A missing tooth – whether it’s just the one causes severe and permanent damage that can spread through the entire mouth.
After losing a back molar, the structure and support of surrounding teeth is lost, which causes other back teeth to shift out of place.
Teeth will always naturally shift towards an empty space, so teeth shift and become misaligned unless this space is filled with a denture or implant.
Gaps in the mouth, causing teeth to shift, increase the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, occlusion and additional tooth loss.
As time passes, the bone in the jaw begins to deplete, making having traditional implants placed in the future impossible without additional grafting procedures.
All of these lead to a more costly cosmetic fix later.
- TMJ
- Misalignment
- Bone resorption
- Accelerated tooth wear
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- Thursday: 10.00 – 19.00
- Friday: 09.30 – 17.30
- Saturday: 09.00 – 13.00 (By appointment only)
- Sunday: Closed
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