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Missing Tooth /
Missing Teeth
Missing Tooth / Missing Teeth: What is It and How is It Treated?
Having one or more missing teeth is common. Some people are born without one or more of their adult teeth, a condition called hypodontia. In other cases a tooth is lost later through trauma, decay or gum disease. Where several adult teeth are absent from birth, this is sometimes called severe hypodontia. Managing missing teeth well usually means planning the bite and the eventual tooth replacement together, which is why these cases are often consultant-led and can form part of complex, multi-stage care.
How to Identify a Missing Tooth
A missing tooth is not always obvious. When an adult tooth does not come through as expected (normally within about six months of the matching tooth on the other side of the same jaw), a missing tooth should be suspected. A baby tooth that is kept well into adulthood can also be a sign that the adult tooth beneath it never formed. An orthodontist can take an x-ray to confirm what is present.
Causes of a Missing Tooth
Effects of Missing Tooth
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Absent from birth (hypodontia)
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Trauma
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Tooth decay
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Gum disease
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Neighbouring teeth may drift into the gap over time
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Loss of the supporting bone in the gap
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Reduced chewing function
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Changes to the appearance of the smile and face
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Retained baby teeth that may eventually wear out or be lost
Treatment of a Missing Tooth
Treatment depends on the cause, your age, the number of teeth involved and your own preferences. There are two broad aims: to close the space so no replacement is needed, or to create and hold the right space so a tooth can be replaced. Options can include:
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Orthodontics using fixed braces, clear aligners and/or orthodontic mini-implants to close spaces, so a replacement tooth may not be needed
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Using orthodontics to create and hold the ideal space for a dental implant or bridge, planned to fit the final restoration (a restoration-led approach)
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Replacing the tooth with a dental implant or bridge
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Where teeth are absent from birth, planning around growth, as implants are usually placed once growth is complete
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Accepting the gaps as they are
The space management and treatment planning are led in-house by Dr Chris Donaldson, Consultant Orthodontist and Clinical Director, who is dual-qualified in medicine and dentistry, and can form part of our complex care. Where a tooth is to be replaced, the orthodontics is planned to fit the final restoration, and the implant or restorative placement itself is carried out in liaison with your own dentist, or with a specialist implantologist we work with. Suitability is always determined by a clinical assessment.
