The most obvious effect of missing teeth is a cosmetic one, however the major consequence of not replacing your missing teeth is in fact bone loss.  Our teeth are embedded in our jaw bones and held in place by gum and adjacent teeth. When a tooth is taken out the jaw that formerly supported it, it begins to deteriorate and resorb.  When the bone resorbs, it becomes less functional and does not support the surrounding teeth as well and also in some cases, the face can appear sunken-in through the cheeks and jaw line. Having missing teeth and gaps in the mouth can effect chewing and digestion, as well as cause speech problems. Another possibility is that neighboring and opposing teeth can begin to tilt, move or over-erupt to compensate for the missing teeth potentially causing bite issues.   Luckily there are options for replacing missing teeth that we can help you with here at John Street Dental , be it just one or several teeth in your mouth, such as partial dentures, bridges or even implants.  At John Street Dental we aim to keep your smile full and healthy and we can guide you through your options for replacing missing teeth.  Make an appointment today with one of our friendly dentists.