The necessity of timely restoration of single missing back teeth When front teeth are missing, most patients can achieve timely restoration because it affects the aesthetics. However, the loss of a single back tooth (excluding the loss of wisdom teeth) has not attracted enough attention. For such patients, the impact of a missing tooth on chewing food is not very big, and the aesthetic impact of the missing tooth is very limited due to its backward position. Patients often come to the clinic only because of chewing difficulties caused by pain in other teeth or too many missing teeth, and by then they often miss the best time and the best conditions for restoration. Patients have to pay more time and cost to repair the tooth loss, therefore, the timeliness of single posterior tooth restoration is very important. What are the dangers of not restoring a single missing posterior tooth in a timely manner? 1, The complete dental arch is a continuous whole, with teeth adjacent to each other and relying on each other. When we are chewing food, the force is dispersed on each tooth. The force that each tooth is subjected to is within its range. When the first molar is missing, the crowns of both front and back teeth lose contact, and in the process of constant force, both front and back teeth may tilt to the side of the gap, and the gap between the missing teeth shrinks, making it more difficult for future restoration. At the same time, the teeth of the opposing teeth lose the force of resistance and keep elongating to occupy the gap, even if the later restoration changes the joint curve and affects the occlusal balance. 2. Impact on periodontium. When the missing first molar causes the neighboring teeth to be tilted, the contact on the distal gap side of the neighboring teeth becomes loose, and the patient will feel that the gap is getting bigger and bigger, and food embedment often occurs. If it cannot be cleaned, it is easy to cause gum redness and adjacent surface caries, leading to periodontal disease or caries. 3.Impact on temporomandibular joint. When the patient’s left first molar is missing, the chewing efficiency of the left back teeth will be greatly affected, and the patient will naturally choose to chew on the right side and develop the bad habit of unilateral chewing. Long-term unilateral chewing may increase the gathering of plaque and calculus on the opposite side, and at the same time, the long-term unbalanced movement of the temporomandibular joint on both sides may lead to temporomandibular joint disease. So, how many restoration methods are there for missing single back teeth? 1. Implant denture restoration. Except for patients with systemic diseases that are not suitable for surgery, most patients can choose this restoration method. It is a more ideal restoration method at present, and there is no damage to the remaining teeth. Although the cost of implant denture is relatively high, but with the improvement of people’s living standards and the importance of oral health, more and more patients choose this restoration method. 2. Fixed denture restoration. In addition to the last tooth missing, other positions can be considered to choose fixed denture restoration. It is more widely used in clinical practice. Its advantages are better comfort and moderate cost. The disadvantage is that the teeth in front and behind the missing teeth must be grinded away, which has a certain degree of damage. 3, the movable denture restoration. It is the most widely used, inexpensive and less comfortable. Many patients use it as a transitional restoration before implant restoration. In summary, a missing back tooth that is not restored for a long time will cause very serious problems and lead to a series of adverse reactions. However, a missing posterior tooth is always neglected by the patient and eventually the problem becomes more complicated when the patient visits the hospital. Therefore, timely restoration of missing teeth and regular oral examinations are essential.