Hello and welcome to another July edition of the New Albany Implants blog!
Today we want to talk about a tough topic: adult tooth loss.
A staggering number of people (something close to 70 percent of American adults) will lose at least one tooth over the course of a lifetime. True story! But why is this happening?
And more importantly, what can be done to prevent that kind of loss in your own life?
These are questions worth asking and with today’s post, we plan to get into all that.
Here at New Albany Implants we focus in replacing lost teeth with dental implants, but that doesn’t mean we want you to lose your original set! Replacing your natural teeth with implants is the best option going, but it doesn’t beat keeping your natural teeth!
So, let’s look at some underlying (and mostly preventable) reasons behind tooth loss.
#1 Bad Hygiene
Poor oral hygiene leads to a buildup of plaque, which is the sticky white film made of bacteria that lives in everyone’s mouths. If it builds up it will have the chance to assault your teeth, causing decay and gum disease that can lead to complete loss of your teeth.
#2 Cavities
Tooth decay is a leading cause of tooth loss. While you can still end up with cavities even when you are taking good care of your teeth, brushing and flossing diligently will increase your protective factors. Cavities can lead to tooth loss and/or extraction in cases that go undiagnosed or untreated.
#3 Periodontal Disease
As with cavities, gum disease is caused by oral bacteria. When that bacteria gets below your gumline it starts to cause inflammation, infection, and eventual weakening of your gums. They’ll start to recede, showing more and more of the roots of your teeth until they start to lose stability.
The loss of stability as a result of untreated gum disease will get worse and worse until your gums and bone can’t support your teeth anymore. Most gum disease patients lose multiple teeth rather quickly as the infection spreads from tooth to tooth!
#4 Trauma/Injury
A car crash, sports injury, or just a slip-and-fall injury at the pool can happen without warning. Teeth are lost from that kind of trauma all the time!
In many cases a traumatically damaged tooth can be saved with a crown or other restoration, but that isn’t always the case. Sometimes there’s nothing that can be done. But we will set you up with a great replacement plan if that is the case.
#5 Avoidance Of The Dentist’s Office
Think about it: there are a lot of places in your mouth that can’t be reached with brushing and flossing alone. That’s why professional cleanings are so important. And exams are able to catch cavities far earlier than you can spot them. The same applies for gum disease. We are on your side, but we can’t do much good if you never come to see us!
Make An Appointment Today!
You can reach our New Albany office by calling (812) 945-7645 or by filling out our online appointment form. We look forward to helping you smile with confidence!