Tooth Loss
Sun City West, AZ
 When you are growing up, losing a tooth feels like transitioning into adulthood. However, there’s nothing more stressful than losing a tooth as an adult. But here’s the deal: you can partly avoid tooth loss. That is why it is important to maintain good oral health and visit your healthcare provider every six months.
Causes of Tooth Loss
To avoid tooth loss, you need to understand the most common causes of tooth loss in order to take measures against them.
Gum Disease
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. First, bacteria accumulates on the surface of your teeth and then causes inflammation in your gums. Gum diseases are often asymptomatic and painless. When left untreated, they can destroy the jawbone underneath the gums.
Physical Injuries
One of the leading contributors to tooth loss is dental accidents. Dental injuries mostly take place during sports. Thus, to prevent dental injuries, it is important to wear mouth guards.
Cavities
You get cavities from tooth decay or damage to the tooth. Cavities, also known as dental caries, are the permanently damaged area in the hard surface of your teeth. Cavities are caused by bacteria, frequent snacking, and drinking sugary drinks.
Best Tooth Replacement Options
A healthy set of teeth not only boosts your confidence but also improves speech and lets you enjoy your favorite foods. Fortunately, with today’s dental advancements, there are a number of excellent tooth replacement options that are not just durable but supremely comforting too.
Removable Dentures
Dentures are a great replacement option for people who have several teeth missing. They are not invasive and comparatively a simpler option to replace missing teeth. There are two types of dentures: partial dentures and full dentures. A complete removable denture replaces most of the teeth, while a partial denture only replaces a few teeth. Dentures are not as durable and natural as dental implants.
Fixed Dental Bridges
Unlike dentures, a dental bridge is a fixed restoration of a missing tooth. A dental bridge is an effective tooth replacement option to bridge the gap between one or more missing teeth. There are three types of bridges that you can choose between: traditional, cantilever, and Maryland.
Unlike dentures, bridges feel and look natural. However, bridges connect two ground down teeth and involve altering existing teeth—they can damage the adjoining teeth if the bridge is poorly fitted. Cleaning the area beneath the bridge can be difficult, which increases the risk of infection and bone loss.
Dental Implants
Dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth with the help of metal screws. Unlike dentures, dental implants are a permanent lifelong replacement option that looks and feels natural. Unlike bridges, dental implants don’t involve adjacent teeth, so they remain safe. They prevent bone loss, improve speech, support adjacent teeth, and are easy to take care of. However, they are the most expensive tooth-replacement option.
Get Replacement Teeth, Today!
We at Dr. Frank W. Sallustio, DDS provide different tooth replacement solutions for different situations. From full-mouth dental implants to fixed bridges and full dentures, we do it all!
Want to do something about your missing teeth? Call us at (623) 738-2639 today to receive a personalized solution to your personalized dental needs. |
