Why do some people have teeth missing?
What are missing teeth?
Do I need dental treatment?
Missing teeth affect people in different ways. It’s up to you to decide whether your missing teeth are causing you any problems, and whether you would like dental treatment to change anything. It’s fine if you do not want any treatment and would prefer to keep your teeth as they are naturally.
Are there problems associated with missing teeth?
Research has shown that people with missing teeth might have other problems with their teeth, too. Your dental team will be able to tell you if they find anything else important while they are checking your teeth. This might include:
Small teeth or teeth that are more pointed
Teeth that get stuck in the jaws (impacted teeth)
Teeth that grow in the wrong place (ectopic teeth and transposed teeth)
Teeth that have not formed properly and have weak enamel (hypoplastic or hypomineralised teeth)
Extra teeth in other parts of the mouth
Some people with missing teeth decide they would like dental treatment because their teeth are causing other types of problems:
How the teeth look
How the teeth look
Some people with missing teeth do not like how their teeth look. This might be because there are gaps between the teeth, the teeth are not straight, or the teeth are not the same size or colour.
Being unhappy with how the teeth look can mean people with missing teeth sometimes do not like to smile in photographs or to show their teeth when they talk or laugh.
Biting or chewing
Biting or chewing
Missing teeth might make it difficult to bite or chew some food. This is normally only if there are lots of missing teeth.
Wobbly baby teeth can also make people worried about biting into hard food like apples.
Talking
Talking
Missing teeth might sometimes cause a lisp when talking. People with missing teeth sometimes do not feel confident to talk in front of other people.
Other people's reactions
Other people's reactions
Sometimes people with missing teeth are worried about what other people think about their missing teeth. This can make them feel embarrassed to smile, eat or talk in front of other people. This can be more important with people they do not know.
If people have made comments about your teeth, it is important to tell your parents and the dentist so they can help you.
Worry about the future
Worry about the future
People with missing teeth sometimes worry about how their teeth will change in the future. For example, what happens when baby teeth teeth fall out.
What if my teeth aren't causing me any problems?
Missing teeth do not often cause any problems with dental health. Some people do not even realise they have missing teeth until they are told by a dentist. It can actually be easier to keep the teeth clean if there are spaces.
If you are not having any problems from your missing teeth, you might not need to have any treatment from the dentist at this time. However, it might be helpful to talk to your dentist about:
How your teeth might change in the future
What to do if you ever change your mind about treatment