The thing about tooth loss is that, in most cases, it could have been prevented. However, it happens often enough that people may think its inevitable. The good news is that means you have a better chance than you may have believed at preventing tooth loss from occurring. If you’ve already lost a tooth, then you can significantly reduce your risks of losing more, which can also sometimes seem inevitable. At our Conroe, TX, dental office, we’re especially equipped to help patients deal with tooth loss, whether that means preventing it or restoring your smile afterward to help you stop the rest from being lost, as well.
How to prevent tooth loss
Tooth loss can be the result of several different potential causes. For example, accidental trauma might knock a tooth and its root out of its socket, or your dentist might recommend extracting it due to severe damage, infection, or more. The most common cause of tooth loss, however, is severe gum disease, which erodes the supportive structures keeping your teeth healthy and in place. Preventing tooth loss means proactively reducing your risks of developing conditions that could lead to it. Aside from accidental trauma, that includes gum disease as well as tooth decay (an infection that progressively erodes your healthy tooth structure).
Why it’s still a threat afterward
When left unaddressed, tooth loss creates a domino effect of consequences with your oral health that substantially raise your risks of losing more teeth. The absence of the tooth on your dental ridge can affect your bite’s balance. As a result, your remaining teeth shift out of place trying to accommodate the change, making them less stable and more likely to develop problems. The loss of the tooth root also has a significant impact, as the loss of stimulation in your jawbone causes it to lose mass and density over time. As it grows weaker, your jawbone loses its ability to successfully support and sustain all of your remaining teeth, and eventually, you’ll lose more.
Avoid losing more teeth
The best way to stop the effects of tooth loss is to replace the tooth in a way that addresses all of its consequences. For many patients, that means choosing a dental implant-supported prosthesis to replace the tooth or teeth you’ve lost. Dental implants are root-like posts that are placed into your jawbone to replace your lost teeth roots. Depending on how many teeth you’ve lost, a custom-made dental crown, bridge, or denture can be secured to the implant posts, creating a highly lifelike solution that addresses the loss of your teeth as well as their roots.
Learn to prevent or stop tooth loss
You can prevent tooth loss before it occurs, or stop it from happening again if it already has, with the right personalized dental care and maintenance. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling the Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX, today at (936) 441-4600. We also proudly serve patients who live in Houston, The Woodlands, Willis, Montgomery, Magnolia, Huntsville, and all surrounding communities.