Tooth number 6 is responsible for the main chewing function of the teeth. When tooth number 6 is lost, chewing ability will be difficult, and at the same time cause dangerous complications for oral health. So is there any way to overcome this situation? Let’s refer to the article below to find the answer!
MỤC LỤC NỘI DUNG
1. What is the position and role of tooth number 6?
Tooth number 6, also known as molars, grows when we are about 6-7 years old. Unlike other teeth, molars do not go through the process of replacing baby teeth but only grow once.
A normal adult will have about 32 teeth (including wisdom teeth), of which 4 molars are divided equally between the upper and lower jaws.
Considering from the incisors, the 6th molar is located at number 6, between the 5th premolar and the 7th molar.
Role of molar 6:
The 6th and 7th molars play an important role in chewing and grinding food before sending it to the stomach, indirectly supporting the digestive process to take place more smoothly.
Furthermore, tooth number 6 is also closely related to the maxillary sinus, so losing tooth number 6 will be very dangerous, greatly affecting the mobility of the jaw.
2. Causes of tooth loss number 6
Here are some common causes of tooth loss number 6:
- Tooth decay
Tooth number 6 grows quite early at 6-7 years old, but at this age, children often do not know how to take care of their teeth properly, so they are very susceptible to tooth decay.
When tooth decay is not detected and treated promptly, the condition will become more severe, the tooth will gradually erode and the enamel will be destroyed. This will cause the tooth to gradually deteriorate from the chewing surface to the side and anatomical pits and grooves.
- Periodontitis
Gingivitis, periodontitis, periodontitis, bone loss around the teeth… are also causes of tooth number 6 loss. Because when teeth suffer from these diseases, the teeth will gradually weaken and become loose, so they must be removed to prevent the infection from spreading to other teeth.
- Impact fracture, broken tooth
Some mechanical impacts such as trauma due to movement, strong impact, accident or biting on a very hard object… can cause the tooth to crack or break. When the tooth is cracked, bacteria will attack the enamel and pulp, leading to the loss of tooth number 6.
3. What are the consequences of losing tooth number 6?
Tooth number 6 plays a major role in chewing and has a close relationship with the nerves in the maxillary sinus. Therefore, tooth loss will cause the following serious consequences:
- Difficulty chewing
The main role of tooth number 6 is to chew and crush food. Therefore, if this tooth is lost, chewing will be difficult, causing food not to be crushed thoroughly, so the stomach has to work harder. Over time, it is easy to get digestive diseases.
- Jaw bone loss, premature aging
Jaw bone loss is the most serious consequence of losing tooth number 6. Bone loss occurs due to the loss of chewing force that stimulates bone growth, usually occurring about 3 months after tooth loss. At first, you will not notice until the bone loss is severe, causing the gums to recede, the skin in the area of the lost tooth to age, sag and wrinkle, making the face look older than its age.
- Misaligned teeth
When tooth number 6 is lost, it will create a gap in the jaw, causing other teeth to tend to fall into that empty position. In the long run, it will lead to misaligned bite and frequent jaw pain.
The above consequences of losing tooth number 6 will occur if the tooth loss is prolonged and no treatment is found. Therefore, to avoid negative effects on oral health and general health, when losing tooth number 6, you should go to a reputable dental center for restoration as soon as possible.
4. Can I get braces if I lose tooth number 6?
Many people who have lost tooth number 6 wonder if braces can fill that gap. In fact, in some cases of missing tooth number 6, braces can be applied to correct the situation by pulling the teeth back together, covering the gap.
However, not all conditions can be treated with braces. If the gap is too large due to tooth loss, braces will not be able to pull the teeth back together evenly and beautifully. At this point, the doctor will advise other restoration solutions such as porcelain bridges or implants.
During the examination, the doctor will perform a CT scan to determine the exact condition of the patient’s tooth loss to see if braces are suitable. If so, the doctor will advise on the appropriate type of braces as well as inform you about the braces roadmap.
5. How to fix missing tooth number 6
If tooth number 6 has been missing for a long time and the gap is too large, then getting dentures is very necessary. You can refer to 1 of 2 popular denture restoration methods below:
Dental bridge restoration
A porcelain bridge is a solution that uses two teeth next to the missing tooth as abutments. These two teeth will have their structure ground down, then a row of porcelain teeth crafted like real teeth with a hollow core will be fixed to the abutments with a specialized adhesive.
Advantage:
- Fast implementation time only 3-5 days after 2 appointments
- Relative cost
Disadvantages:
- The shelf life is not too long so it has to be redone many times.
- Porcelain bridges only restore the crown of the tooth, not the root, so they cannot prevent bone loss and premature aging.
Dental Implant Restoration
Implantation is the optimal solution for tooth loss restoration today. Implantation is performed by inserting a Titanium post into the jawbone to replace the lost tooth root. When the post and jawbone integrate, a carefully crafted porcelain crown will be placed on top through the Abutment joint.
Advantage:
- Ability to chew like real teeth because of the strong artificial tooth root
- Prevent bone loss and premature aging of the face
- High aesthetics
- Long life, can last a lifetime if properly cared for
Disadvantages:
- Recovery time lasts 3 – 6 months
- The cost is high, but with the outstanding advantages that Implant brings, this cost is completely worth it.
- Requires a highly qualified and experienced doctor to perform the procedure to avoid complications.
Thus, the consequences of losing tooth number 6 for a long time are very serious, not only affecting aesthetics but also causing many dangerous diseases for health. Therefore, when encountering tooth loss, no matter which tooth, you should find a way to fix it to avoid negative consequences.
Hopefully this article has provided you with some necessary information. If you have any further questions, please contact Westway Dental, our team of consultants will assist you.
>>> Read more articles What to do if tooth number 7 is lost? Can it be replaced with braces or implants?
