Losing Teeth—the Emotional Aspect—what happens emotionally
I just ran across this article from the British Journal (Jan. 1998).  They found that these people exhibited:

1)   Bereavement—the feeling of loss was often as severe as the feeling of losing a spouse or child!

2)  Lowered self esteem—many people felt lower personal value as they had “gone down the socio-economic scale”!

3)   Altered self confidence—this was most dramatic in people losing all the teeth or getting partial or full dentures.  The loss of self confidence was evenmore pronounced one to years after.
4)  Inability to discuss this “taboo” subject—This goes across the back drop of lower self esteem and fear of social situations.
5)  Behaving in way that keeps the tooth loss secret—many reported holing their hand over their mouth or changing the way they smile.  Some reported even refusing to smile in public.
6)  Altered behavior in socializing and close relationships—again, changing their ability to smile.  Not eating in public was found in many people as they reported fear of food getting between the teeth, or even worse having false teeth come lose while eating or speaking.
7)  Premature aging—this feeling that they had aged “before their time” was common in the group, and was greater as the number of teeth was larger.
Wow!  Losing teeth is more than the cost of extractions and replacement.  Dentistry has so many ways to replace missing.  Dental bridges, dental crowns, dental implants, partial dentures, and even full dentures can replace missing teeth.  The advances in dental implants especially can permanently correct the tooth loss problem.

• Psychological Challenges and Social Concerns of Tooth Loss-Dental Implants & Tooth Loss
• Tooth Loss & Dentures–Associated Disabilties–Report from Naperville Implant Dentist
• Danger of Tooth Loss –Aging, Wrinkles, Life Span, Nutrition– Dental Implants & Dentures
• Lady from Wheaton Could not Taste Food with Dentures, Dental Implants
• Emotional Aspects of Dentures & Missing Teeth