Although it is not uncommon that a tooth or teeth can be congenitally (present at birth) absent in certain individuals; missing teeth is commonly caused by tooth loss due to dental extractions which are generally the end point result of untreated dental caries and/or periodontal disease.
Missing teeth can, depending on the number and position in the mouth, cause aesthetic and/or functional impairments such as reduced chewing/masticatory abilities that can potentially predispose an individual to negatively impact the quality of life due to changes in food preference, a low intake of essential nutrients (with lower intake of energy, protein, vitamins, minerals) and dietary fiber, and impaired chewing ability.
Missing congenital teeth have been associated with ovarian cancer in women and tooth (teeth) loss, especially if severed, can increase the risk of systemic disease, and even death; the fewer teeth you have, the higher is the risk of death.
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