What Happens When You Lose Back Teeth?

Many New Yorkers followed the recent story about the former Pfizer building on East 42nd Street, where buckling support columns during construction raised concerns about the building’s structural integrity. While a building and a mouth are very different, both depend on strong structural support. When that support is compromised, the remaining structure has to absorb forces it wasn’t designed to handle.

The same is true in your mouth. Your back teeth do much more than chew. They absorb the majority of the forces created when you bite. When one or more back teeth are lost, those forces are redistributed to the remaining teeth, especially the front teeth, which were never designed to withstand that amount of pressure. Over time, this imbalance can lead to worn or chipped front teeth, cracked fillings and crowns, shifting teeth, changes in your bite, and even jaw discomfort. At Prosthodontic Associates, we look beyond the missing tooth. We evaluate the whole mouth and how a single tooth affects the entire bite. Our goal is always to restore balance to your bite and protect your remaining natural teeth. Whether treatment involves a dental implant, bridge, or another restorative solution, replacing missing back teeth helps preserve your smile and may prevent more extensive treatment in the future.