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If teeth are lost, then the supporting periodontal tissue (bone and gums) is also lost over time. As the gums and bone disappear, problems with other teeth, lack of support for dentures, partial dentures, and fixed bridge work increase. The problems associated with tooth loss include pain, mobility of other teeth, lack of retention for prosthetic appliances, sharp / painful jaw ridges and mobile / sore gum tissue. The tongue, being one of the powerful muscles of the body, enlarges to accommodate spaces of missing teeth. Facial muscles tend to collapse due to the lack of support. People with all of their teeth, can eat / function up to five times more efficiently than people without or missing teeth.
Periodontal disease (loss of the supporting gums and bone) is progressive in nature. In other words, once we have deterioration of the bone in an area, the likelihood of bone loss occurring around adjacent teeth increases. It is like the foundation of a building, if the foundation is weak or defective in one area, then there is likelihood of the supporting walls or roof developing problems. This is why it is better to address the basic problems of the mouth and teeth before the side effects arise.
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