If No One Sees It, Is Replacing a Back Tooth Really Necessary?

December 8, 2025

Woman with a missing premolar

When a person loses a front tooth, they may waste no time getting it replaced. This is their smile after all, so getting the treatment they need can help them avoid feeling insecure. However, if you are missing one of your back teeth, like your molars, then you may wonder if it’s worth getting that space filled. While no one may see it, getting a reliable tooth replacement is still important; here are four ways how. 

1.)  Prevent Chips and Cracks

Your teeth are designed to do a very specific job, with the front ones tearing and cutting food while your back ones mash it. When you are missing a molar or premolar, you may have more trouble breaking down your meals. The structures nearby will have to pick up that workload. They may experience increased wear and tear or be more likely to sustain damage. You will be able to redistribute that pressure by getting a dental implant.  

2.)  Easier Time Eating Foods

Building off the point above, you may not chew your food thoroughly before swallowing it, or avoid certain items that are good for you. Instead, you may opt for a softer diet, but it can be hard to get the nutrients you need to stay healthy.

The good news is that dental implants are able to fix this! A tooth that undergoes a lot of pressure needs a reliable replacement option like them. They restore up to 90% of your bite, so you will have an easier time munching on your favorite meals than before and give your body the vitamins and minerals it needs.

3.)  Avoid Other Teeth from Shifting

Gaps that missing teeth cause can spell trouble for your dental alignment. The surrounding structures naturally want to close that gap. A tooth may over-erupt to fill it, or you might notice your smile is more crooked than before. Thankfully, dental implants can keep their neighbors in place, so you don’t have to worry about them moving.

4.)  Protect Your Jaw from Certain Problems

Everything above can then combine and put a strain on your jaw muscles. They may start to become sore or hurt more, which can be a headache to deal with. Not only that, but jawbone loss is common after tooth loss. The bone isn’t getting the stimulation it used to from biting and chewing, so your body starts to reabsorb those areas to use the minerals elsewhere.

Dental implants are an effective way to prevent this from happening. A post is placed and fused to your jawbone, giving your full smile a stable and reliable foundation while providing healthy pressure from eating. That way, you feel confident knowing your grin will stay in great shape for years to come.

About the Practice

At Troisi Dentistry, you benefit from the skilled leadership of Drs. Lucia and Claudia Troisi. We are here to help the Chesapeake community fill in their missing teeth with reliable options like dental implants. By performing the entire process in-house, you get to stay with a team you trust every step of the way, ensuring it looks and feels natural. If you have missing teeth you want to fill, schedule an appointment or call our office at (757) 548-1611.