The bone volume that used to hold that tooth, shrinks, and it will continue to shrink forever, unless a dental implant is placed into that site, at which time the shrinkage from tooth extraction stops, because the bone “thinks” the tooth is back.
The bone volume that used to hold that tooth, shrinks, and it will continue to shrink forever, unless a dental implant is placed into that site, at which time the shrinkage from tooth extraction stops, because the bone “thinks” the tooth is back.
Teeth on either side of the gap will begin drifting out of normal alignment and begin tipping into the gap. The tooth in the opposite jaw, which used to bite onto the tooth that was removed, will “miss” that partner and begin to drop down trying to find its lost partner to re-establish the bite.
If offered removable tooth replacements, such as partial or full dentures, bone shrinkage will continue whether you wear the dentures or not. Bridging-over the gap, by crowning two natural teeth, and soldering a fake one in between, also will not prevent shrinkage. Only the dental implant is capable of stopping shrinkage.
An implant is osseointegrated into the bone, which then has a crown placed on top of it. This lifelike smile is a long-term solution that leaves the adjacent teeth alone, while it preserves the jawbone.