The good news about modern prosthetic dentistry is that patients who experience tooth loss can rebuild their smiles so effectively that it’s almost as though they never lost a tooth. However, fully restoring a smile after losing teeth isn’t as beneficial for your long-term oral health as preventing tooth loss from occurring in the first place. Today, we take a look at two of the most common causes of tooth loss, and how you can improve your chances of preserving your smile in each case.
Severe Gum Disease
Of all the many potential reasons for losing teeth, severe gum disease (or periodontitis) is the most common one. The chronic condition involves rampant inflammation in your gums that gradually destroys the tissues and the jawbone structure underneath. This can leave your teeth without adequate support, resulting in the loss of one or more of them. By preventing gum disease with consistently good hygiene and dental care, or treating it as soon as symptoms develop, you have a chance at preventing the disease from costing you teeth.
Extreme Tooth Infection
Tooth decay, or tooth infection, is typically a mile to moderate issue that can be addressed with a tooth filling or root canal procedure. In extreme cases, though, the infection can compromise so much of your tooth structure that your dentist has to extract it, or the tooth may fall out as its root becomes decayed. The best way to avoid tooth loss due to decay is to seek treatment from your dentist as soon as you notice any signs of sensitivity in your tooth.
Learn More About Common Causes of Tooth Loss
Restoring your smile after tooth loss is one thing, but by understanding its most common causes, you have a good chance of preventing it from occurring in the first place. To learn more about preventing the causes of tooth loss, schedule a consultation by calling our dental implant office nearest you today at 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).
