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Replacement of Missing Teeth
Teeth are very critical to our health and
appearance. Our teeth allow us to chew our
food thoroughly, aiding in digestion. Teeth
also help us to choose a variety of foods
thereby ensuring proper nutrition. During
chewing the teeth work as a unit with the
front teeth cutting and the back teeth
grinding the food. That is why the front
teeth are pointy and sharp with biting
forces of 150 lbs and the back teeth are
flat and broad with biting forces of 285.
Many people don’t consider their back teeth
important because they do not show. They
will have them extracted. When enough back
teeth have been lost; they will come to the
dentist because their front teeth are
wearing and chipping. The complete loss of
all teeth can be quite debilitating
resulting in malnutrition. This occurs
frequently in our nursing homes.
Teeth make our faces fuller by supporting
our jawbones and our facial muscles.
This can be seen in people with no teeth
when the nose and chin are too close
together resulting in a “witches” nose and
chin. It can also be seen in women with old
dentures when the upper lip curls under.
They try to compensate by putting lipstick
above the hidden lip.
The ancient Phoenicians replaced missing
teeth with ivory attached to the adjacent
teeth with gold wire strands in 500B.C.
Today teeth can be replaced in three ways:
implants, fixed bridges and removable
dentures. Generally the long term success
rate and comfort is best to worst in the
order above. Of course each situation is
unique and requires a thorough diagnosis.
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