Missing teeth can occur due to gum disease, tooth decay, injury, or a genetic condition. The impact of missing teeth will depend on multiple factors, including the location of missing teeth. In some cases, there may be either little or no impact. However, your teeth are designed to work together, so missing one or more teeth can sometimes impact speech and eating which may lead to other physical problems over time.

It may become harder or more uncomfortable for you to chew your food, leading to only eating on one side of your mouth or having to eat at a much slower pace, affecting your jaw and facial muscles.

Missing teeth can also change the shape of your face because it can cause your mouth to shift. Plus, your bite might change to make up for lost teeth, and the remaining teeth may shift and move if there is extra room, causing other issues such as tooth sensitivity, tooth grinding and difficulty chewing.

Regardless of the reason why you may have missing teeth, if you’re looking to replace a lost tooth or to improve the overall appearance of your smile, then there are options such as implants, dentures and bridges.