ADVANCES IN DENTISTRY HAVE IMPROVED OVERALL ORAL HEALTH IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS.
IN SPITE OF THESE ADVANCES, TOOTH LOSS, UNFORTUNATELY, REMAINS A COMMON PROBLEM.
Believe it or not, more than half of the
US population has at least one missing tooth. The good news is when
tooth loss does happen dentists are
very well equipped to find a solution
for tooth replacement.
The most common cause for tooth
loss is gum disease, also called “periodontal disease.” Gum disease is a
condition that affects the supporting
structures of teeth. Poor oral hygiene,
tobacco use, genetics, family history
of diabetes and even stress can affect
the health of gums. Dental decay is
the second most common cause of
tooth loss. Decay that is left untreated
for too long can cause significant damage that is beyond repair by the dentist.
One might ask why is it important to
replace a missing tooth. There are a
myriad of problems that can result when
one does not have a full set of functioning
teeth. Teeth are primarily used for chewing
or breaking down food. Therefore, good
nutrition is dependent on healthy functional
teeth. Tooth loss can limit the ability to break
down food thereby compromising overall
nutritional health. In addition, a lost tooth can
cause changes in the balance between the remaining teeth. Once a tooth is lost, teeth will shift
or drift into the empty space potentially creating
a bite that is less than ideal. It goes without saying
that teeth provide esthetics. Our smile is a part of us
and can affect the way we interact with others.
What options are out there when a tooth cannot be
saved or is already missing? There are generally three
methods for a single missing tooth replacement today: (1)
dental implant, (2) dental bridge, and (3) removable dental )