Poor chewing efficiency due to tooth loss (edentulism) leads to improper nutrition and may contribute to poor general health.

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Trauma to the edentulous ridges may occur and can alter their shape. Not replacing missing teeth causes greater stresses on any natural teeth that may remain. Remaining teeth can move, tip, crack or chip—
often leading to loss of vertical dimension of occlusion (bite collapse), and TMJ disorders (jaw joint problems, TMJ Dysfunction, or TMD).