If you’ve ever worried about experiencing tooth loss, the good news is that preventing it is usually highly possible. There’s no secret to it; many of the most common causes behind adult tooth loss are things that can typically be prevented, or managed before tooth loss occurs. The problem for many people is that they don’t recognize their specific risks for experiencing tooth loss, or know how to lower those risks with the right level of care and maintenance. Fortunately, you can boost your chances of preventing tooth loss by learning to recognize your risks, and addressing them as soon as possible.
Start with the root causes of it
The first step to preventing tooth loss is to understand that, while it may not be inevitable, certain underlying oral health conditions can reach a point where losing a tooth or having to have one extracted becomes imminent. Before that occurs, your best bet at preventing tooth loss is to prevent the conditions that cause it for most patients, such as gum disease or extreme cases of tooth decay. If you’re at risk of developing such a condition, or if you experience bite function issues that could lead to extensive tooth damage, then you and your oral health specialist have a better chance at pinpointing your specific tooth loss risks, as well.
Work on improving your oral health
If you’ve already developed an oral health concern like gum disease, tooth decay, bite dysfunction, or more, then work on improving your oral health with a comprehensive treatment plan. Your dentist or oral health specialist can diagnose the exact nature and severity of your oral health issues, then help you devise a treatment plan to improve your oral health in a conservative and minimally invasive manner. If you’ve already lost a tooth, or if you’ve reached a point where tooth loss is imminent, then it’s important to replace the tooth and its root as soon as possible.
Replace lost teeth as soon as possible
Once it does occur, tooth loss has a domino effect on the rest of your oral structures that increasingly raise your risks of losing more teeth in the future. This can be somewhat mitigated by replacing your lost teeth with a dental bridge or denture. However, to truly restore your smile and reduce the risks of tooth loss negatively impacting it, the best option is typically to replace the lost teeth’s roots, as well. One or more dental implant posts can be inserted into the jawbone to support your restoration and keep your smile’s foundation strong and healthy.
Learn more about preventing tooth loss
Tooth loss isn’t inevitable, and with the right care and maintenance, you can significantly boost your chances of preventing it. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, call Santa Rosa Oral Surgery in Santa Rosa, CA, today at 707-545-4625.
