# Can you chew with 3 missing molars **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 3, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300 "2014-04-03T23:41:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![belladee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@belladee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladee)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/1 "2014-04-03T23:41:28Z")
Hello this is my 1st post here but I want a straight answer not a dental answer. I had my wisdom tooth pulled, then the molar in front of that one. Now I may need to have the one in front of that one pulled too. So that will be the 3 back ones on the lower left side all gone. So my question is will I be able to eat still On that side? will I be able to eat steak and nuts and bagels, on that side… like will my gums be able to chew and it be effective and not painful? I don’t want a implant Thank you ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/2 "2014-04-04T00:22:23Z")
Chewing is tricky, anything that needs masticating like steak or hard things like nuts are out of the picture. I have had a partial denture made and my god I can’t believe after 5 years of putting up with a couple of missing molars the difference! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/3 "2014-04-04T00:51:40Z")
You can, it doesn’t work all that well, but you would still have the other side. Get an implant if you can. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/4 "2014-04-04T01:27:19Z")
No one does dentures any more? ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheField](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@LilyoftheField](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheField)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/5 "2014-04-04T01:45:17Z")
I have no molars left top or bottom. I do have partial dentures, but due to limited funds and no insurance, my partials are long past the point of needing replacement. They are pretty much worn down to the gumline. I can still chew, and I will even risk a good steak on occasion, but it’s risky - it does require awareness - it gets pretty easy to bite off more than you can chew and this does constitute a choking hazard. ☹ I do it - but I really wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re dining with someone familiar with the heimlich maneuver. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/6 "2014-04-04T01:51:18Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > No one does dentures any more? Plenty of people do, but dentures lead to other problems. Partials tend to harm the adjoining teeth, and full or partial can create gum problems and result in eventual bone loss making implants difficult or impossible in the future. It’s also difficult to fit dentures properly for some people because the gums and bone change after the teeth are removed and a lot of people complain about pain when they first get them. Implants are expensive, but they are worth every penny. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/7 "2014-04-04T02:03:25Z")
Yes, you can, but you other teeth will loosen. Get a partial or an implant. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/8 "2014-04-04T05:02:10Z")
I have no molars on either side and it hasn’t slowed me down much. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/9 "2014-04-04T17:57:20Z")
I just had the last remaining molar on the top left extracted this week. two spots in front of it have been empty for years. The gum in those spots was tender for a while after the socket had healed. Even after that went away forgetting and chewing in the tooth free zone resulted in discomfort rather than pain. I did opt for a partial denture to minimize shifting of the others while I save up for implants. One of the options was a partial that covered all of my teeth, similar to invisilign braces. I ended up not getting that kind, but I was intrigued to know that exists. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/10 "2014-04-04T18:03:25Z")
I’ve no adult molars at all on my lower right (none ever grew - I have one retained milk tooth and a wisdom tooth) and I have a missing lower left 5. I manage OK - I can’t eat large mouthfulls of very crunchy stuff any more. ---
**Author:** ![belladee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@belladee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/11 "2014-04-04T19:46:12Z")
what is a milk tooth? is that on the side with ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/12 "2014-04-04T20:10:16Z")
> [@belladee](#): > > what is a milk tooth? > is that on the side with Usually it means the baby teeth you lose in childhood. Don’t know if there are other meanings. ---
**Author:** ![belladee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@belladee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladee)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/13 "2014-04-05T18:57:53Z")
this morning I tried to chew an apple on the gum where my one missing molar is… it did not feel good… I don’t think pulling this other one will be a great idea ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/14 "2014-04-05T19:33:37Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Usually it means the baby teeth you lose in childhood. Don’t know if there are other meanings. Yes - it’s a baby tooth - no adult molars ever appeared on my lower right jaw (too many appeared on the other side and several had to be pulled) - and thus I retained one my milk teeth - nothing ever pushed it out. ---
**Author:** ![scruffycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scruffycat/32/200_2.png) [@scruffycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scruffycat)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/15 "2014-04-05T20:30:34Z")
I have no bottom right molars and only one bottom left, so not much for the top too press against. Can’t say it’s made any difference to what I can eat at all really. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/16 "2014-04-05T20:45:57Z")
I’m missing seven molars, which includes all four wisdom teeth that never grew in (go figure…) Haven’t had any problems. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/17 "2014-04-05T21:34:31Z")
Dentist here. (No matter what \*\*FXMastermind \*\*thinks) I know you said you didn’t want a “dental” answer. Generally speaking the answer is it depends. Most people in your situation can chew very well. Hard things and chewy things(nuts, chips, steak, jerkey) tend to chew better with teeth. Just chew them on the other side and you should be fine. It is usually better to replace missing teeth if you can but many people do fine without teeth. I’ve had patients with no teeth at all that have nothing they can’t eat. Everyone is different but take things slow and you should be okay. ---
**Author:** ![belladee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@belladee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladee)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/18 "2014-04-05T22:08:21Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > Dentist here. (No matter what \*\*FXMastermind \*\*thinks) I know you said you didn’t want a “dental” answer. Generally speaking the answer is it depends. Most people in your situation can chew very well. Hard things and chewy things(nuts, chips, steak, jerkey) tend to chew better with teeth. Just chew them on the other side and you should be fine. It is usually better to replace missing teeth if you can but many people do fine without teeth. I’ve had patients with no teeth at all that have nothing they can’t eat. Everyone is different but take things slow and you should be okay. Thank you for your response. I am actually very happy to hear from a dentist. I just didn’t want to hear the dental mantra “save the tooth or you’ll be sorry” many people in the dental industry give me a hard time for not wanting an implant or for wanting to pull the tooth. I have pulled one that was in pain for 4 months and now this other crown its not “healing”" its been a month and I am still in pain. I guess everyone is different. I don’t want to have to eat on one side forever. I realllly like to eat on both sides, its exhausting to eat on only one side ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/19 "2014-04-05T22:44:35Z")
> [@belladee](#): > > Thank you for your response. I am actually very happy to hear from a dentist. I just didn’t want to hear the dental mantra “save the tooth or you’ll be sorry” > > many people in the dental industry give me a hard time for not wanting an implant or for wanting to pull the tooth. > > I have pulled one that was in pain for 4 months and now this other crown its not “healing”" its been a month and I am still in pain. > > I guess everyone is different. I don’t want to have to eat on one side forever. I realllly like to eat on both sides, its exhausting to eat on only one side Glad to help. You say a crown is not healing? Did you have a crown placed on the molar and it has been hurting since? Could be something simple like the bite is off. Does it hit prior to the other teeth? May just need a bit taken off the top. If it is just hurting all the time may still be saveable with a root canal. ---
**Author:** ![belladee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@belladee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladee)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300/20 "2014-04-06T00:25:57Z")
the bite has been triple checked… I also feel that the bite is ok. I am very against a root canal. (and am now very against crowns) I don’t think it needs a RC, when the crown was off they were blowing air and water and I didn’t have any lingering sensitivity at all. it also didn’t hurt at all when the temp was off and they were getting the crown ready for placement the crown just hurts. … feels like its sitting low deep in my gum? like as if a pebble was under the gum… hurts constantly. I think I was able to push it up a little with waterpick use every day and now its aching in the back too… perhaps I moved it. its on with temp cement The problem is the dentist said the crown is good and the gum looks good, the crown is nice ( I had one before that was bad, this new dentist replaced) Its just hurting all the time and not healing, im tired of it… so I was considering just pulling it. I just don’t want to have another problem with eating… not really sure if I should wait more of just pull it and get my life back to normal [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-chew-with-3-missing-molars/685300.md?page=2)