Why don't people have all their teeth removed?

[Dancing David]

Um, teeth have some benefit over dentures. But I haven't seen a good cost benefit ratio.

The main issue is that most people don't have dental insurance. I pay nothing for my preventative care, quite a bit for the treatments as needed.

 

[The Don]

In my case I can see that dentures are a very good substitute for bad teeth and for myself I will never go back to my normal teeth.

Well that's good on the grounds that going back to your normal teeth is not an option.

 

[whatthebutlersaw]

Anyone who has had the misfortune of having to replace real teeth could probably tell you a lot of immediate problems that this would cause.

Another problem is that teeth are actually a more integral part of your body and its general health than previously understood. A very simple - and simplified - example: the enamel in own teeth actually sends information that helps your brain determine the amount of force your jaw needs to apply to the thing you are eating. People with dentures don't get this "free" information but must reason their way to, or remember, appropriate force for different foodstuffs. This in turn can lead to tensions in jaw and neck, causing pains and headaches. Teeth health and heart health are correlated although the causality link between them has not been determined.

It's great that there are such good dentures and implants these days because a lot can happen to teeth that have nothing to do with not taking care of them, but given a choice take care of the ones you have. Some countries that provide free health care do not provide free dental care. Sweden, for example, doesn't while NHS (Britain) does, although lots of people give up waiting for an NHS dentist to get an opening in their area and go private. To my mind those who provide health care but not dental care are very short sighted as dental health really is an integral part of your overall health. Basic dental care ought to be provided as part of basic health care.

Current research is looking into a very exciting prospect: the possibility to manipulate our bodies into growing new, own, teeth. I don't know how far we are from achieving that but the last I heard this is researched in different ways - some researchers focused on the possibility of using stem cell research to this end while others are looking for the answer in the anatomy of the teeth themselves. I wouldn't hold my breath - although that someone finds it viable enough to put researach money into is exciting in itself. I think I read somewhere that we're close to "growing" teeth in labs. The next step either being to grow them in jaws or finding a plausible way of affixing lab grown teeth in your mouth. I don't know how close we are but it is kind of exciting to think about.

 

[quarky]

I've got some fake teeth. When i got them, i asked the dentist if she could make a few messed-up looking fake teeth. I didn't want them to look too perfect. I was surprised when she told me that it was a common request.

Now I wish I'd asked for "Dondi" teeth. That would be a cool look.

 

[whatthebutlersaw]

We now have filler materials that "bond" with the actual enamel and aren't expected to need replacing so it is at least theoretically plausible to come up with a way to get an entire, real, homegrown tooth affixed in a person's jaw in a way that makes it bond to the jaw. This in turn does not deteriorate the jaw in the same way metal screws do.

When it comes to the aesthetics of it, these days you very rarely can tell and cosmetically it really doesn't make a difference. I don't doubt that the person upthread who claimed the own ones were only causing pain is relating a true experience - unfortunately some people, through no fault of their own, don't develop what will later become the teeth, in utero, or the embryonic teeth are formed badly so that the teeth cause nothing but trouble when they errupt.

I don't mean to discourage anyone who has had to replace teeth - it's obviously not a disaster that will ruin your life. I just don't see any particular benefits to replacing healthy teeth.

(I have also heard the above re: pulling all teeth and replace with dentures at 21 or as a wedding gift in Scotland. In my case I read it in Pamela Stephenson's book "Bravemouth" - her biography on husband Billy Connolly, where she gives post war Glasgow a bit of colour by relating that same bit of trivia.)

 

[El Greco]

False teeth are really the thing of the future. At some point it will become high fashion. Carbon fiber teeth, high-tech teeth which will function as wifi spots, teeth in various numbers, colors and shapes (eg 126 diamond-shaped yellow teeth), modular teeth for changing your look on the fly, teeth with OLED screens that can play high definition movies, etc.

 

[richardm]

Well that's good on the grounds that going back to your normal teeth is not an option.

Nah, I've got a box of teeth. Half an hour's work with a hammer and we can probably get a reasonable approximation.

I've got some fake teeth. When i got them, i asked the dentist if she could make a few messed-up looking fake teeth. I didn't want them to look too perfect. I was surprised when she told me that it was a common request.

Many years ago I fancied becoming a dentist, and spent some time shadowing one. Part of this involved a trip to a dental lab, where they manufactured crowns and dentures. They said that a regular request was for them to be "as white as possible", and it always made them cringe.

Re: the removal of teeth as a birthday present; I've certainly heard this before, and it wasn't unique to Scotland either. The argument was that it was a good gift since it removed the burden on the husband of paying for future dental treatment. Rolfe's probably right that NHS dentistry knocked that on the head.

 

[Mark6]

If it were cost affective it would be worth it, but since it likely isn't, there's not much of a point to it.

Some types of implant/dentures, I forget which and how exactly it works, but over time can cause the jawbone to shrink and become brittle, cracking it after a decade or two. If everyone had this in affect, around age 45 people would have to get their jawbone replaced, and I can't imagine that being pleasant. There are types to get around this though, but they likely have their own complications, infection, etc.

That's what my dentist told me when several years ago I asked the very same question OP did -- basically, without teeth in it jawbone deteriorates. I also have some personal experience with this phenomenon: my lower left wisdom tooth was removed when I was young, and about 20 years later a sliver of bone poked out of the empty gum. I put it in alcohol and brought it to my dentist. He said this was a small piece of jawbone which separated due to having no tooth to support.

 

[Zelenius]

Current research is looking into a very exciting prospect: the possibility to manipulate our bodies into growing new, own, teeth. I don't know how far we are from achieving that but the last I heard this is researched in different ways - some researchers focused on the possibility of using stem cell research to this end while others are looking for the answer in the anatomy of the teeth themselves. I wouldn't hold my breath - although that someone finds it viable enough to put researach money into is exciting in itself. I think I read somewhere that we're close to "growing" teeth in labs. The next step either being to grow them in jaws or finding a plausible way of affixing lab grown teeth in your mouth. I don't know how close we are but it is kind of exciting to think about.

I am excited about this possibility too. I can't think of any reason why we can't regrow strong, healthy teeth to replace cavity-ridden ones. I can't think of any reason why it would be impossible. This doesn't mean it's going to be easy, but with advances in biotechnology and nanotechnology, we should be getting closer to this every year.

Don't forget that numerous species regrow teeth indefinitely whenever they lose them, like some species of sharks(to my knowledge anyway).

I am considering having all my teeth removed because of how problematic they are and using dentures. I am dealing with the slight pain of a cracked filling as I write this. This tooth(what little is left of it) will need a crown that I can't afford. My teeth are crooked, weak, chipped, worn-down, very prone to cavities, yellow, my gums are receding and bleeding, and I have periodontal disease even though I brush and floss twice a day. Other than my teeth I am in good health luckily. I'm not as "old" as my teeth. I think the severe sinus problems I used to have were largely due to my mouth problems.

 

[Belz...]

I've never understood why everyone doesn't simply have all their teeth removed at about age 25 and wear dentures the rest of their lives. I'd think this would be better due to the following:

* Much less risk of a serious medical problem from bad teeth

* MUCH less long-term cost to maintain dentures or get new ones every decade than to continually fill, fix, replace, cap, etc. teeth

* Less symptoms that are frequent but not fixable or return--i.e. intolerance to cold foods like ice cream, or heat, or pain, etc. Even if teeth are fixable, many people have to experience stuff like this for a good % of their lives until they are fixed

* Less risk of getting a tooth problem without access to a dentist/ER, such as on a long camping trip, in a third-world country, etc.

Are dentures actually a health risk too, or cause pain in some people? The only groups I can think of that dentures might negatively effect more than the pretty lousy track record of our teeth (particularly with modern sugar-filled foods and such) would be singers or actors who're afraid it'll affect their voices. But why not otherwise?

Short answer: I already have teeth.

Long answer: Why would I remove them instead of just maintaining them ? Do you get a new car at each maintenance date ? Plus, real teeth cut better.

 

[Reviresco]

Damn. I really love my teeth. The thought of having any pulled makes me cringe. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, and floss are cheap. Brushing and flossing is easy. We have fluoridated water here that tastes great. All in all, it's a little money, a bit of daily effort, and voila, healthy teeth.

I'm a singer, and I can't imagine trying to sing with dentures. I had a problem a few years ago when I made two front teeth crooked (doing leather crafting - don't use your teeth!) and until I fixed it, my singing was impaired, as if I had a lisp.

 

[bruto]

I'm sure genetics have something to do with it, but so does early nutrition and a habit of good dental care. But before we get too judgmental, we need to remember that all these things involve some degree of good fortune, which many people in the world do not share. I was brought up as a middle class American, by parents who were well informed about nutrition, diligent about dental care, and even when times were a little tight, able to afford it.

It's a good thing that denture technology has progressed so far that people who, for one reason or another, cannot keep their own teeth, have an alternative, but I would rather see a world in which everyone has the opportunity to get good care and good nutrition and good education, and, in consequence, keep their teeth. Real teeth are nice to have.

I recently had a tooth crack when a 50 year old filling finally went, and needed a root canal and a crown. I'm very lucky to be able to afford this, but the endodontist put it succinctly. She told her assistant "he wants to die with all 32." And so I do, though I'm in no hurry.

 

[Tomblvd]

Another problem is that teeth are actually a more integral part of your body and its general health than previously understood. A very simple - and simplified - example: the enamel in own teeth actually sends information that helps your brain determine the amount of force your jaw needs to apply to the thing you are eating. People with dentures don't get this "free" information but must reason their way to, or remember, appropriate force for different foodstuffs. This in turn can lead to tensions in jaw and neck, causing pains and headaches. Teeth health and heart health are correlated although the causality link between them has not been determined.

Your explanation isn't quite accurate. The enamel has no "live" tissue in it. However, the root of the tooth is attached to the bone by the periodontal ligament, essentially a hammock of thousands of tiny ligaments that attach from the root (actually the cementum) to the bone of the tooth socket. Within those ligaments are specialized nerves called proprioceptors that give you the ability to tell how hard you are chewing and the general position of the teeth.

But you are very correct in saying that the complete loss of these nerves makes chewing more difficult and is one of the many reasons to keep your natural teeth.

 

[Lowpro]

I wouldn't like the idea of removing teeth especially if you suffer from bone disease, which you will at a later age. Keep your teeth -.-

I mean let's face it, your whole body is going to suffer and throwing on artificial parts won't fix that, it'll just defer cost to a specialized dentist.

 

[JJM 777]

I've never understood why everyone doesn't simply have all their teeth removed at about age 25 and wear dentures the rest of their lives.

I have artificial front teeth, I replaced the original ones for esthetical reasons. They look and feel perfect, as the roots are original and healthy. For 1000 EUR apiece, you need to be either rich or totally uninterested in anything what the same money can buy, if you choose to replace all of your teeth just for the fun of it.

 

[Corsair 115]

I've never understood why everyone doesn't simply have all their teeth removed at about age 25 and wear dentures the rest of their lives.

Uh, I believe there are proven methods of preventative maintenance that can be done on real teeth which keep them in good health and free of most problems. This preventative maintenance is not all that costly nor is it difficult to perform.

 

[whatthebutlersaw]

Damn. I really love my teeth. The thought of having any pulled makes me cringe. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, and floss are cheap. Brushing and flossing is easy. We have fluoridated water here that tastes great. All in all, it's a little money, a bit of daily effort, and voila, healthy teeth.
I'm a singer, and I can't imagine trying to sing with dentures. I had a problem a few years ago when I made two front teeth crooked (doing leather crafting - don't use your teeth!) and until I fixed it, my singing was impaired, as if I had a lisp.

Uh, I believe there are proven methods of preventative maintenance that can be done on real teeth which keep them in good health and free of most problems. This preventative maintenance is not all that costly nor is it difficult to perform.

Yes. For those of us who are fortunate enough not to be born with poor teeth from the start. There are various conditions and variations that can cause teeth and gums to be problematic even with proper care.

While I completely agree with taking proper care of your teeth, I feel it is unfair to just assume that everyone whose teeth have had to come out simply didn't bother. Apart from the fact that accidents can happen the teeth are surprisingly complex thingamies with lots of stuff that can go wrong with them while they are forming in the embryo. There are people who are born without the makings of teeth at all (is it "agenesis" I'm looking for, does anyone know?), or with the makings of poor teeth. There are also people who get a third set of teeth.

I'm not comfortable assuming that anyone who has great trouble with their teeth have simply neglected them and I would feel flippant to suggest they floss if the problem is genetic.

Trivia: Ed Helms, who played Stu in The Hangover and infamously performs autodentistry by pulling a tooth on camera was born with agenesis of that tooth. It simply never formed and he usually wears a permanent bridge there. For The Hangover his dentist fitted a removable bridge to make it possible to film that scene. Since Helms was simultaneously working on the American version of The Office at the time, he was under contract not to make any cosmetic changes for the duration but no one seems to have noticed if one of his teeth was slightly altered. He told this to Marc Maron while being interviewed for the WTF? podcast.

 

[The Norseman]

My experience in this arena is limited, but similar to that mentioned above, playing musical wind instruments is far more difficult -- if not impossible -- to play correctly with dentures.

I was facing a similar problem just a few weeks ago, as a matter of fact, where a cavity in my front tooth threatened it and there was a slight possibility that the tooth would have to be removed. I promptly looked into a post and crown type fix rather than a bridge because of the pressure of the top teeth necessary for a clear, full tone with my clarinet.

In this case, the cavity was repaired and any tooth replacement was unnecessary.

 

[quarky]

I am excited about this possibility too. I can't think of any reason why we can't regrow strong, healthy teeth to replace cavity-ridden ones. I can't think of any reason why it would be impossible. This doesn't mean it's going to be easy, but with advances in biotechnology and nanotechnology, we should be getting closer to this every year.

Don't forget that numerous species regrow teeth indefinitely whenever they lose them, like some species of sharks(to my knowledge anyway).

I am considering having all my teeth removed because of how problematic they are and using dentures. I am dealing with the slight pain of a cracked filling as I write this. This tooth(what little is left of it) will need a crown that I can't afford. My teeth are crooked, weak, chipped, worn-down, very prone to cavities, yellow, my gums are receding and bleeding, and I have periodontal disease even though I brush and floss twice a day. Other than my teeth I am in good health luckily. I'm not as "old" as my teeth. I think the severe sinus problems I used to have were largely due to my mouth problems.

Wanna make-out?

 

[Corsair 115]

Yes. For those of us who are fortunate enough not to be born with poor teeth from the start. There are various conditions and variations that can cause teeth and gums to be problematic even with proper care.

Fair enough. But do recall the statement made in the OP (emphasis added):

I've never understood why everyone doesn't simply have all their teeth removed at about age 25 and wear dentures the rest of their lives.

The statement made no distinction between those born with 'good' teeth or 'bad' hence my comment.

I'm not comfortable assuming that anyone who has great trouble with their teeth have simply neglected them and I would feel flippant to suggest they floss if the problem is genetic.

I, for one, never stated that assumption (nor do I think I even implied it).