The Godon effect occurs when one tooth is missing. Not counting the eights, we should have 28 teeth arranged in arches of 14 on the top and 14 on the bottom. The lack of one of these teeth seems trivial. Nothing could be more wrong. The shifting of adjacent teeth into the gap left by the lost tooth (Godon's symptom) can cause many serious problems.

The Godon Effectoccurs when one tooth is missing. An adult man has 32 teeth, including eights. Unfortunately, the teeth, especially the eighth ones mentioned above, can cause various types of problems. They are manifested by crowding, malocclusion or difficult tooth growth, followed by painful inflammation. Sometimes there may be no rescue for such a tooth and it needs to be removed. Not counting the eights, we should therefore have 28 teeth arranged in arches of 14 on the top and 14 on the bottom. The lack of one of these teeth seems trivial. Nothing could be more wrong.

Godon Effect - What is it?Causes of Godon's symptom

- When one tooth is missing, the opposing tangent tooth slowly protrudes from the bone. The tooth seeks contact with the opposite side and sometimes the moment of finding this contact is the moment when pain starts from the side of the joint.

Many of us have a single missing tooth. However, it is not worth ignoring them. Leaving an empty space after a extracted tooth can lead to a number of complications.

For example: if we are missing the left bottom six, the left top six has no support and will be extended downwards. This process is professionally called extrusion. The tooth then looks longer and clearly protrudes above the crown line of adjacent teeth. It is the so-called Godon effect - explains the drug. dent. Tomasz Łukasik from Dentim Clinic in Katowice.

What causes it? A common cause is the loss of an opposing tooth, but not only that. Other reasons include various types of malocclusion, when the pressure forces in the jaw are not even, as well as mismatched fillings (pay attention to your fillings!) And worn or damaged teeth.

The Godon Effect - Dangerous Consequences

Usually, when we miss a tooth in the aesthetic zone, i.e. from one to four, we try to fill it in as soon as possible. The case is different for molars and premolars. if it'sit is a single tooth, we can still eat with the other side of the mouth and we do not feel much discomfort. By the time. The process of tooth protrusion is usually slow and it is only months after the loss of the opposing tooth that we notice that something is wrong.

- A protruding tooth means that most of the root is exposed, but not covered by the gum. Such a tooth is more prone to plaque build-up, remains of food and caries bacteria develop on it, and bacteria that cause periodontitis develop on the gum. The protruding tooth is also less able to hold in the jaw, which increases its mobility and the chance of loss. He should be under special observation - warns the Dentim Clinic expert.

Improper chewing of food and gastric problems associated with it, ranging from flatulence to avitaminosis, are just the top of the problems. The Godon effect, as a disorder of occlusion, i.e. bite, leads to painful ailments on the part of the temporomandibular joint.

- Problems resulting from the Godon effect can manifest themselves, inter alia, in joint pain when talking or chewing. Pain radiating from the joint to the ear, jaw and even the occiput. It is not a permanent pain, it worsens during or after intense conversation and eating. We call this set of ailments Costen's syndrome, the dentist explains.

- Moreover, the distribution of forces in the maxilla and mandible is disturbed, which causes abrasion, cracking and even crushing of the remaining he althy teeth. It is important to fill the missing teeth as soon as possible so as not to aggravate the damage - he adds.

Important

The Godon effect applies not only to the opposing tooth, but also to the teeth adjacent to the gap. The bone at this point is lost, the teeth lose their support and move, usually towards the hole. Counting quickly - missing one tooth affects at least three adjacent ones.

Godon effect - treatment of Godon's symptom

Nothing can replace prophylaxis. We usually lose teeth as a result of trauma or caries. Caries is today the second most common disease in the world, right after … a cold. Brushing your teeth after each meal with fluoride toothpaste, a toothbrush in good condition and a thread are necessary equipment. However, what to do when it is too late for prophylaxis? There are at least several methods of reconstructing a lost tooth or its fragment in the dentist's office.

- What is worth emphasizing, the problems often persist after the tooth is supplemented. The rebuilt teeth wear or break off, or even worsen the situation. This is due to starting treatment without an accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause. So that the treatment waspredictable and stable over time, it must be preceded by an appropriate diagnosis - in this case - by an occlusive analysis. They are performed, among others intraoral pictures, X-ray and computed tomography, as well as Doppler examinations of the temporomandibular joint. This helps to identify bite problems and propose the best solution to the patient, explains the dentist.

If the tooth crown has crumbled as a result of an injury, it has been damaged by caries or has been abraded, it can be rebuilt using the same composite used for the filling.

- If the loss is small, we use composite restoration. We choose the shade to match the color of the patient's teeth, form the crown as natural as possible and adjust it to the tangent and adjacent teeth. In the case of molars, it fulfills its function very well and should be indistinguishable from the patient's own teeth, says the drug. dentist Tomasz Łukasik.

The forces acting in the oral cavity during chewing are really high, up to 60 kg. And while enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body, it can crack and wear at times. Glaze is a great replacement for ceramics. It can be used to make very durable tooth crowns that perfectly imitate the dentition.

Another method of reconstructing a single cavity is a bridge. We put the bridge on when there is not even a root left of the tooth. The bridge supports are teeth adjacent to the gap, i.e. in fact the bridge is made of 3 or more teeth. The teeth under the bridge are ground, crowns are placed on them, and the crown of the missing tooth is attached between them. This construction is very durable and improves the chewing, speech and bite functions of the patient.

The most durable method of restoring missing teeth is inserting an implant. The implant is a titanium small screw that is designed to replace the lost root. A ceramic crown is placed on the implant. It is an excellent solution for patients who do not want to grind their teeth, and who care about the aesthetic effect and comfort. Inserting an implant has one more advantage - it prevents excessive bone loss in the area of ​​the defect and is an excellent support for the teeth.