Losing your first tooth as a child may have been quite a startling experience, especially if it happened unexpectedly. Hopefully, each successive baby tooth lost was less disconcerting than the one before it, and by the time you lost your last baby tooth, you were eagerly anticipating the arrival of its permanent replacement. Losing a tooth as an adult, however, is considerably more traumatic, and there isn’t another one waiting to grow in its place. The frequency of adult tooth loss may lead some to believe that it’s a natural occurrence, one bound to happen to most people sooner or later. Yet, permanent tooth loss is not natural. Your teeth were meant to last and function for a lifetime, though accidents and improper dental hygiene can curb that ambition. Your Allen implant dentist, Dr. Marco Cueva, explains how teeth that were meant to endure are often lost, and what you should do if tooth loss occurs.
The Leading Cause of Tooth Loss
Though a tooth can be lost for many reasons, the leading cause of adult tooth loss is severe gum disease, which attacks the gums and jawbone that secure and protect your teeth’s roots. When excessive dental plaque accumulates along your gum line, the germs that comprise it release toxins that irritate the connective tissue between your gums and teeth. Receding gums create pockets for more germs to gather, and the infection can lead to inflammation that exacerbates the damage. When left unchecked, severe gum disease destroys your gum tissue and continues on to the underlying jawbone, leading to the loss of one or more teeth. Typically, gum disease results from inadequate hygiene and progresses due to neglect of the warning signs (i.e., redness, swelling, and bleeding of the gums).
What Should You Do if You Lose One or More Teeth?
When gum disease is detected early, the bacterial infection (known as gingivitis) can often be reversed with advanced periodontal care and improved dental hygiene. If gum disease, or any other dental malady, causes you to lose one or more teeth, then what remains of your oral health can depend on replacing those lost teeth. Whether you require a dental crown, partial, or full denture depends on the severity of your tooth loss, but whatever dental prosthetic is right for you, it will serve you best when attached to one or more dental implants. As prosthetic tooth roots, implants are surgically embedded into your jawbone. They can anchor your fabricated teeth as securely as your natural tooth roots, and can help preserve your jawbone’s integrity, which depends on the presence of tooth roots to maintain its nutrient supply.
Learn More About Tooth Loss & Dental Implants with Your Allen Dentist
To learn more about the continuing destruction of tooth loss and how to save your oral health from its influence, schedule an appointment with your Allen periodontist by calling (972) 390-9944 today. Located in the 75013 area, we proudly welcome patients from Allen, Plano, Richardson, McKinney, Frisco, Fairview, Murphy, Wylie, Lewisville, Carrolton, and surrounding communities.
