Gaps between teeth can occur naturally or when teeth have been lost. People often live with spaces between their back teeth for years because they do not cause a cosmetic problem. However, these spaces can lead to dental problems. When spaces are present due to missing teeth, movement will occur. If left untreated, other teeth will drift and tip into unoccupied areas.
Teeth also migrate into spaces when opposing teeth are missing.
To keep all your permanent teeth functioning and in their correct position, you need to replace missing teeth to maintain long term oral health. Your teeth are mutually dependent on each other to maintain their natural position in your mouth. This positioning helps you chew while distributing your biting forces. When you lose a tooth the remaining teeth will move into the open space. A bridge can be used to replace missing teeth and restore dental health.