- Cosmetic challenges (spaces and gaps)
- Functional loss (inadequate chewing can result in digestion issues such as gastric reflux)
- Speech issues (whistling or spitting)
- Bone loss (jaw is sunken due to loss of stimulation)
- Recession of adjacent teeth (leads to gum disease, decay, sensitivity, mobility and tooth loss; “domino effect”)
- Bite misalignment (shifting, drifting, flaring, fanning-out, migration, and eruption of unopposed teeth)
- Over-stressed teeth (an uneven force distribution disturbs the balance and overloads the teeth)
- Headaches – stress and damage to the joints (TMJ)
- Facial aesthetics (skin will sag)
- Emotional effects (loss of confidence in smiling)
Common approaches to replacing missing teeth are dental implants, fixed partial dentures, or removable partial dentures.