Inverleith Dentalcare

Is It Bad to Lose Your Back Teeth?

Maintaining good oral health is crucial for a beautiful smile and overall well-being. While many people focus on the care of their front teeth, it’s important not to overlook the significance of back teeth. Losing back teeth can lead to various dental problems, including teeth tilting and cracking. These issues not only diminish your smile’s aesthetic appeal but also pose a risk to the longevity of your remaining teeth. In this blog post, we will delve into the consequences of losing back teeth, the risks of teeth tilting and cracking, and the potential impact on your dental health.

The importance of back teeth.

Back teeth, also known as molars and premolars, play a critical role in the chewing process. They are responsible for grinding and crushing food, aiding digestion, and maintaining the alignment of your jaw. They basically hold the weight of the jaws. When back teeth are lost, these essential functions are compromised, leading to a domino effect of oral health problems.

What is teeth tilting?

The Domino Effect Begins. When a back tooth is lost, adjacent teeth may begin to shift or tilt. The absence of support causes neighbouring teeth to gradually move into the empty space. This movement disrupts the natural alignment of your teeth, leading to further oral health complications. Tilting teeth not only affects your smile’s symmetry but can also result in bite problems and misaligned jaws.

Cracking & Fractures: A Weakened Foundation

The loss of back teeth can weaken the overall dental structure, making your remaining teeth more susceptible to cracks and fractures. Back teeth provide support and help distribute the force of your bite evenly. Without this support, the increased stress on the remaining teeth can lead to micro-fractures and eventually more severe cracks. Cracked teeth can cause pain, sensitivity, and even tooth loss if left untreated.

Impact on Dental Longevity

The molars and canines are the steel beams of the house. They provide the maximum support to ensure that everything else slots in and lasts. Teeth tilting and cracking caused by the loss of back teeth significantly reduce the life expectancy of your remaining teeth. As the structural integrity of your dental arch is compromised, it becomes more challenging to maintain proper oral hygiene practices. Misaligned teeth are harder to clean, allowing bacteria to accumulate and increasing the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Furthermore, cracked teeth are more prone to infections, requiring extensive dental procedures such as root canals or extractions.

Restoring Dental Harmony

To prevent the unravelling of your smile and preserve dental longevity, it is crucial to address the loss of back teeth promptly. Seeking professional dental care is essential for exploring suitable treatment options.

Dental Implants

It’s really important to save these teeth. But if they are too far gone, the best solution is dental implants – these are self-supporting like natural teeth and will help shoulder the burden of the other teeth. With the advent of navigation-guided surgery, these procedures are a non-event.

Bridges

Bridges are also a great option if you don’t want consider implants or the implant solution is too complicated. The benefit is that you can use adjacent teeth but remember this puts extra load on these teeth and if one tooth fails you have a many teeth failure to address. These can also reduce the life expectancy of the other teeth. But they are better than a denture.

Dentures

Dentures are an effective solution to replace missing teeth, restore proper alignment, and prevent further oral health complications. However, they still rely on the other teeth to support them and can also reduce the lift expectancy of other teeth by reducing the cleanliness of the area. They also carry the stigma of removable teeth. There are better options available nowadays.

Conclusion

Losing back teeth can profoundly impact dental health, resulting in teeth tilting, cracking, and a compromised smile. Ignoring these issues can lead to a domino effect of dental problems, diminishing the longevity of your remaining teeth. Therefore, it is vital to prioritise the care of your back teeth and seek professional dental advice if you experience tooth loss. By restoring dental harmony through appropriate treatments, you can ensure a beautiful smile and maintain optimal oral health for years to come.

Remember, regular dental health checks and diligent oral hygiene practices are key to preventing the loss of back teeth and preserving your precious smile.

If you would like to find out more, please contact our team by calling 0131 552 4830 or emailing info@inverleithdentalcare.co.uk.

To book a consultation, you can use our direct online booking system by clicking here.

We look forward to welcoming you to Inverleith Dentalcare.

What Our Patients Are Saying

Inverleith Dentalcare

4.9

Based on 349 reviews

review us on

Clara Gore

08:29 11 Feb 25

What a great gentle experience! Thank goodness for a lovely dentist

billy darling

08:21 11 Feb 25

Outstanding service as always

Amanda Robbins

08:15 10 Feb 25

Thomas Chan

11:20 07 Feb 25

David is very gentle and considerate with his patients. He explained every steps during the treatment. Very satisfied.

Gordon Clayton

10:00 06 Feb 25

Although a double appointment with the Hygienist is not my idea of fun, Rihanna and her Assistant were as usual very pleasant and took care to carry out the various procedures with care and ensure my comfort and provide good advice for future dental hygiene. Inverleith Dental practice can be recommended for care. .

chris fowles

15:27 30 Jan 25

I had an excellent hygiene appointment today with Brianna and Peter.They were very professional and the level of cleaning was second to none. I appreciated the advice that was given at the end of the appointment regarding my at home care.Thanks!

Brian Mulholland

14:23 06 Jan 25

I had a great experience at Inverleith Dentalcare. John McAleavey was very thorough during my check-up and used a camera system to create a 3D scan of my teeth, showing where plaque had built up, which was really helpful. Briana, the hygienist, did an excellent job, leaving my teeth feeling very clean. Overall, I was very pleased with the service and would recommend Inverleith Dentalcare, especially John and Briana.

Iwona Walkowiak

11:29 19 Dec 24

I was able to secure an emergency appointment as a new patient and was impressed by the friendly and welcoming reception staff. The dentists were both positive and highly professional, ensuring a smooth and painless removal of my wisdom tooth. Thank you so much for the exceptional care. I highly recommend their services.

Dona Easton

10:16 02 Nov 24

I cannot recommend this practice highly enough!It is a delight to visit. I am treated with courtesy, friendliness and respect from the reception staff. Likewise, my excellent dentist - Dr Chris Fowles, who is highly skilled and takes time to explain all the procedures to me, often on screen, which ensures my complete understanding of all my treatments.

David Wilson

20:26 15 Oct 24

Excellent service. Emergency appointment as lost a filling away from home. Staff were exceptionally helpful and supportive. From Reception through to Treatment it was a very positive experience. Should I move to Edinburgh I would be extremely happy to apply to join their books. Many thanksDavid Wilson

Jean Kenyon

18:00 12 Aug 24

David Neilson

16:45 08 Aug 24

Great dentistry. I would definitely recommend.

Susanne Goetzold

13:57 25 Jul 24

Really happy with this dental practice. Chris Fowles is an excellent dentist. He takes time to explain treatment and options and also explains what he is doing during check ups and treatments, so nothing comes as a surprise. Great for anxious patients. He also has a great sense of humour. Staff always really friendly and helpful.

Mariam Aziz

08:46 25 Jul 24

I would very highly recommend the Inverleith Dental clinic. They are very professional and really knowledgeable. The admin staff is very helpful and will get you the information that you need to make a decision abo the best treatments you need. Dr. John McAleavy is excellent. He was also very knowledgeable about my TMJ issues and he was really understanding during the appointment and he sign posted me to the tools I needed; this made me feel that he cares about my progress and the best outcome for my case. Overall, I had a great experience and I can confidently say that will come back to Inverleith for any follow ups and future dental needs.

mattias nuella

20:16 24 Jul 24

The staffs were nice and big ups to Dr. Chris, my consultation session with him was good and he was friendly.

Sandra Johnson

19:00 24 Jul 24

Could not ask for better treatment! Thank you so much for all your care, attention and kindness for my son Jay who is having treatment with Chris Fowles he has Cerebral palsy and cannot make it up the stairs so they use a room downstairs to support Jay, Chris has been so thoughtful and makes Jay feel at Ease and explains everything he is doing before he does it this really means a lot. Highly recommend to anyone.

Jo Nash

17:14 17 Jul 24

I met with Dr John McAleavey as a new patient for a consultation about my complex dental health situation. I'm a nervous patient and was instantly at ease on entering the practice. John really listened to my background story and quickly spotted the source of my problems that had been missed by other dentists. My assessment was the most rigorous I've ever received, yet very gentle. John took the time to explain everything thoroughly and clearly. I left the practice with a sense of peace that I'd found the answers I'd been seeking, and confident I was in the hands of expert professionals. I'd recommend them to anyone.

Rosemary Jamieson

19:58 05 Jul 24

I was anxious before my first appointment with Inverleith Dental - my dentist of 25 + years had retired and I needed a practice nearer home - but I should not have worried!The welcome from the receptionist was lovely - The initial conversation with the dentist was very helpful - I learned about the ethos of the practice and felt I was being listened to - in addition this chat took place before the mouth examination so I was not in the reclining position which can put the patient at a disadvantage!The receptionist was most helpful with my mobility problems on leavingThe beautiful Georgian building is a bonus

Ookii Neko

11:50 09 Jun 24

I found Inverleith Dentalcare as I needed emergency dental treatment. They were very accommodating and managed to allocate an appointment the next day. Their service is second to none with professional and caring staff, dentists take the time to explain the procedure to the patient, and use modern standard techniques, materials and treatments. Worth every recommendation.