Tooth loss isn’t a natural part of aging, but many people will have to deal with it to some degree during their lives. The good news is that, if you haven’t experienced tooth loss yet, you still may have a good chance at preventing it from ever occurring. If you’ve already lost one or more teeth, then there are steps you can take to successfully rebuild your smile and lower your risks of losing more teeth in the future.
Preserving your smile before tooth loss
Losing one or more teeth isn’t something that just occurs for no reason. However, the specific reasons for it can differ greatly from patient to patient. Therefore, it’s important to understand what some of the most common causes of tooth loss are, and how to effectively protect your smile against them. In many cases, this means sticking to an excellent hygiene routine and schedule of preventive checkups and cleanings. This will help you successfully prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria that can lead to concerns like gum disease, which is the leading cause of adult tooth loss.
Taking action to reduce your risks
If you haven’t lost any teeth yet, then the current state of your oral health can say a lot about what your highest risk factors for tooth loss may be. For instance, if you exhibit signs of early gum disease development, a condition known as gingivitis, then your risks of tooth loss will keep getting higher the longer you wait to treat it. The same is true for tooth decay, which progressively erodes your healthy tooth structure, and other chronic oral health issues that are allowed to progress far enough. If you’ve already lost a tooth, then the empty space in your smile can be another risk factor altogether, and filling the space will be the only way to address it.
Reestablishing a full, healthy smile
The risks that tooth loss pose for losing more teeth are unique to other risk factors. These risks are due to the reaction of your jawbone and oral structures to the loss of your tooth’s root, which is essential to maintaining the integrity of your smile’s foundation. Without the root, the bone structure in your dental ridge will begin to lose mass and density, making it more likely that you’ll lose more teeth in the future due lack of support. For many patients, the best way to avoid this and mitigate the heightened risks of tooth loss is to replace the lost tooth and its root with a dental implant restoration.
Learn how to deal with tooth loss properly
Tooth loss is preventable in many cases, but if it does occur, you can still rebuild your smile with a highly lifelike restoration. To learn more, schedule an appointment with us by calling Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at 913-681-5500. We also serve patients who live in Overland Park and all surrounding communities.
