What is the definition or description of: missing teeth?

Not there: A missing tooth is a tooth that should be there but isn't. It might have not erupted yet, be congenitally missing, knocked out in an accident or been extracted.

Missing teeth: A tooth which is not in your mouth.

Fewer than normal: There are normally 20 baby teeth and 32 adult teeth. Anything less than that would qualify as missing teeth. Sometimes there are congenitally missing teeth or previously extracted teeth which affect the number of teeth present.

Not present : If a tooth is not present it may be missing. Diagnosis should start as early as possible. X-rays are extremely important. A permanent tooth may be missing from the dentition but could be impacted or submerged in the bone. Sometimes with orthodontics a tooth can be brought in to the oral cavity successfully.

See below: Missing teeth; would be described as teeth that either have not developed naturally to replace lost baby teeth, or teeth removed surgically or traumatically and not replaced with either implants or fixed or removable partial dentures.

Teeth not there: Fewer teeth in the mouth and underlying bone than there should be.

SEE BELOW: Missing teeth is defined as a tooth or teeth no longer present in the mouth either due to congential issues or extraction due to trauma or dental disease.

Normal adult dentition has 32 teeth and, properly aligned, they act like staves in a barrel to support each other. If there are less than 32 teeth because of congenital reasons, trauma, disease of tooth or supporting tooth, and it was never ther in the 1st place or was removed for cause, you now have missing tooth. See your Dentist for advice (and go ever 6 months).