The Slow Departure of Perfect Teeth

Lucas had always been proud of his smile—pearly whites, perfectly aligned, the kind of teeth that made people assume he had braces as a kid (he didn’t). But then, at 28, it began.

The first tooth went quietly. A molar on the lower left, loosened by an old sports injury. "It’s fine," he told his friends, shrugging. "Who even needs all their teeth?" He adjusted his chewing, avoided hard foods, and carried on.

Then the second tooth—a premolar this time—wobbled free. That one hurt, not just physically but in principle. Gaps were forming. His tongue kept wandering into the new emptiness, like a tourist in a ruined temple.

A year passed. His bite changed. Teeth, no longer held in place by their lost neighbors, began tilting, drifting like crooked tombstones. His once-perfect smile now had a jagged, haphazard look. Eating felt uneven. Smiling felt risky.

Finally, Lucas went to the dentist.

Dr. Nara examined him, then delivered the verdict: "Your teeth are migrating. If we don’t act, they’ll keep shifting. You need alignment treatment—and if we don’t add a false tooth to fill the gaps, the rest will keep destabilizing."

Lucas groaned. "So I have to get a fake tooth?"

"Unless you want a domino effect of crookedness, yes."

The process was tedious—scans, fittings, adjustments—but slowly, order returned. The false tooth blended seamlessly, and with the aligners, his teeth straightened back into harmony.

Expert Advice:
"Even one missing tooth can disrupt your entire bite," says Dr. Nara. "Teeth rely on each other for support. Ignoring gaps leads to shifting, uneven wear, and even jaw issues. Early intervention—whether implants, bridges, or aligners—saves you bigger trouble later. Your smile is a team sport. Don’t leave holes in the lineup."

Lucas learned his lesson: perfection is fragile. But with care, even lost things can be restored—almost as good as new.

QUESTION: 

what happens if you don’t replace missing teeth?

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