Anyone had a tooth out and lived with the gap? Does the gum really toughen up ?

[Aero]

This tooth had been bothering me for years and my lovely dentist and I both agreed we'd nursed it for long enough, so I had it removed this morning (gross looking right now). We thought it was a fracture which was causing the intermittant flaring up of pain and inflammation, but when she took it out there was actually a cyst growing on it, so no wonder it kept bothering me!

Anyway, what I'm wondering is, if when it heals over, does the gum really toughen up enough to be able to chew as effectively as before, or is it better to pay out circa £200 to bridge it with a denture?

Anyone with experience either way? I'm not too worried about it aesthetically as it's not obvious when I smile/talk etc, but I think food getting in the gap might annoy me.

I'll be grateful for your advice.

I have the 2nd molar from the back removed, got in done in late childhood. I have no problem eating and in all honesty I can't say I notice that there isn't a tooth there anymore. Gum is not tender ever or sore it is just normal now.

I had the last molar on the bottom left removed during pregnancy as I had a terrible abcess under it and couldn't have a root canal until after the baby was born. I decided I couldn't face it and I have never had a problem, but I don't have any wisdom so nothing to catch bits behind the gap. I may be having it's top counterpart removed tomorrow if it is not repairable as it was filled and has now got decay in between the teeth. Certainly no problems with chewing-it soon hardened up.

Should have read "wisdom teeth" though some might agree with my original wording!

I would def bridge it - I lost a molar about 10 yrs ago, was far to broke at the time for any kind of replacement and so lived with the gap. Now all my lower teeth are starting to move sideways - not a great deal, but enough that I notice and hate it. Am looking into a bridge now, but it might not correct the movement that has already happened.

"too broke"

That's a good point wilbur and is something I would consider. I was talking to a friend at school this afternoon and she's had two molars removed and never had any bother, so that helped me feel that all would be ok re chewing food etc, but I definitely wouldn't want movement later on.

I'll wait the six months and see how I feel then, but I suspect I might well go for the bridge.

Thanks all for your helpful posts.