Edentulism: What happens when we lose teeth?

| We call edentulism the loss of teeth and it can be total or partial, depending on the loss of teeth.

It is the absence or total or partial loss of teeth. The cause of edentulism can be congenital or acquired. Total congenital edentulisms are a manifestation of very serious congenital syndromes and, generally, not compatible with life. However, the congenital absence of a tooth is more common. Acquired edentulism, that is, the loss of teeth during our lives is a more common fact than congenital edentulism and is usually secondary to processes such as caries, periodontal pathology or trauma.

The main consequences of partial edentulism are the resorption of the alveolar bone and / or the displacement of the neighboring teeth towards the new space created. The movement of the teeth generates alterations in the occlusion.

Total edentulism or significant partial edentulism leads to significant aesthetic alterations. Being able to decrease self-esteem, induce alterations in the pronunciation of words, in the chewing function and in the temporomandibular joint. These aesthetic consequences become much more evident when the edentulism affects the anterior front. The changes derived from the omission in the restoration of the missing pieces were described by Kelly in 1972 and have been included in the combined syndrome that bears his name.

This combined Kelly Syndrome manifests itself in those cases where the absence of natural teeth affects the upper jaw. This leads to accelerated resorption in the upper jaw and, as a consequence, the mandible undergoes a counterclockwise rotation seeking to reposition itself with respect to the upper jaw. This replacement is increasingly hampered by bone resorption. The final consequences are the protrusion of the mandibular chin, the reduction of the lower third of the face, the sinking of the upper lip and the increase in the width of the mouth. The typical image would be that of the popular Doña Rogelia puppet.