Mark Gurarie is a freelance writer, editor, and adjunct lecturer of writing composition at George Washington University.

It’s not uncommon to have missing teeth. In fact, a survey in 2015 found only 48% of American adults ages 20–64 have a full permanent (or secondary) set. Nearly 1 in 5 seniors over 65 are missing all of their teeth (called edentulism). Genetic conditions, gum disease, injury, cavities, and tooth decay are among the many causes of tooth loss.

Tooth loss can affect chewing patterns, cause bone loss, and impact self-esteem, and it can lead to other health conditions if left untreated. Fortunately, there are ways to restore your smile, such as with dental implants, dentures, and dental bridges. This article discusses the causes and impact of tooth loss or lack of tooth development, as well as what you can do about it.

All people lose their initial, or primary, set of teeth (commonly known as baby teeth) as they age. However, the 32 secondary (adult) teeth that replace the original are permanent. That said, a wide range of conditions, health issues, and other factors can cause tooth loss or raise the risk of it.

In some cases, secondary teeth never form due to an inherited malformation of the upper and lower mandible (jawbone). Called tooth agenesis, this type of tooth loss can occur with certain congenital conditions, including cleft palate and lip (a split in the upper lip and roof of the mouth) and Down syndrome (trisomy 21, a genetic disorder caused by the presence of a third chromosome 21).

The three kinds of congenitally missing teeth are:

Another common cause of missing teeth is gum disease, which causes spaces between gums and teeth referred to as pockets. Over time, this can cause teeth and bones to decay and tissue to recede, which leads to tooth loss.

Causing inflammation, redness, and bleeding in the gums, gingivitis is a mild form. It’s generally reversible with good dental care and hygiene. If untreated, though, gum disease progresses to periodontitis, in which plaque buildup moves below the gumline. This prompts extensive treatment.  

Of course, sports injuries, falls, car accidents, and other kinds of trauma can cause you to lose teeth. Losing an entire tooth in this manner requires immediate attention from your dentist or an endodontist, a dental specialist. Try to see a doctor within a half hour.

If you’ve lost a tooth due to trauma or a fall—and after calling for immediate help—try to reposition the tooth back into its socket. If that doesn’t work, store it in a glass of milk or hold it in your mouth next to your cheek as you travel to the dentist. Don’t wrap lost teeth in paper towels, clean it with any chemicals, or touch the exposed root.

A number of other dental health conditions and behaviors raise the risk of developing missing teeth, including:

In addition, severe tooth loss is significantly higher in those with a number of diseases, including:

People develop missing teeth for a variety of reasons, including certain genetic conditions, gum disease, injury, and trauma. Tooth decay, poor nutrition, smoking, and poor dental care all raise the risk, as do certain chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.

There are many reasons that missing teeth should be taken care of. The following is a breakdown of the impact of tooth loss:

Given how essential taking care of missing teeth can be, and how common the issue is, it’s little wonder that there are options for restoring your smile. Along with the long-standing approach of wearing dentures (false teeth), dentists and endodontists offer several newer treatments. There’s no need to live with tooth loss.

When the task is to replace a single tooth, dental implants are a particularly promising option. These create permanent false teeth that are crafted to blend in with yours. Getting an implant is a multistep process that includes:

Entire or partial sets of false teeth, dentures, may be necessary in cases of significant tooth loss. These are worn as needed and taken out at night.

The two kinds that are used are:

Living with dentures does require particular care, including cleaning them properly and avoiding certain foods and drinks.   

Effective for replacing multiple missing teeth at a time, installing a dental bridge is a third option. These sets of artificial teeth are attached to a bracket (the bridge), which is cemented to supporting structures: either healthy teeth with crowns or implants.

Though the procedure to put dental bridges in place isn’t as invasive as that for implants, several appointments are required. Here’s a breakdown:

Dental implants, dental bridges, and dentures are all means of replacing missing teeth. The specific approach used depends on the number of teeth missing, health of the jaw, and other factors.

Though very common, missing teeth impact not only impacts self-esteem, but it can lead to significant health problem. Loss of permanent teeth can be caused by genetic conditions, trauma or injury, gum disease, cavities, and poor dental hygiene. It’s also associated with diabetes and heart disease, and, if untreated, can lead to jawbone loss. Treatment options include wearing dentures (sets of false teeth), dental implants, and dental bridges (false teeth affixed to existing ones).   

While missing teeth can, in some cases, be easy to ignore, tooth loss is something you should take seriously and treat. Like many health issues, the sooner you seek out and start the process of correcting it, the better the outcome. Along with keeping up with good dental hygiene habits and regular checkups, talk to your dentist about what you can do to correct your tooth loss.

Veneers are porcelain or ceramic shells that are placed over existing teeth to correct their appearance. They’re typically used to correct smaller issues—chips or cracks—rather than to replace entire teeth.

You can get braces if you have missing teeth, and, in fact, braces may be necessary to line up teeth before you have a dental implant inserted. Very much depends on the specific case, but teeth alignment procedures can be attempted—and may even be recommended—when teeth are lacking.

There are several reasons missing a tooth isn’t good and should be treated, including:

Some causes of missing teeth are indeed genetic. An estimated 1% of people (though prevalence may be higher) have tooth agenesis, in which one or more adult teeth never form (or only partially form). Varying in severity from hypodontia (one to five missing teeth) to anodontia (in which no adult teeth form), this is caused by variations in the shape of the upper and lower jaws.

Overall, a majority of adults have at least one tooth missing, and it grows increasingly common as you age. Naturally, some teeth are more likely to go than others. The most commonly missing are:

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