Missing Teeth

Posted: Jan 28, 2011 |Comments: 0 |

As we age, the wear and tear on our teeth may eventually result in tooth loss. Not only does the loss of one or more teeth cause physical challenges with eating, it affects the aesthetic value of a winning smile. In many cases, embarrassment and decrease in self-esteem accompany tooth loss. In the past, missing teeth were replaced with either a partial or a full plate of dentures. Thanks to advances in cosmetic dentistry, there are many more options for replacing missing teeth.

Factors that Cause Missing Teeth

In the past, the prospect of losing teeth could be devastating, often leading to malnutrition and further oral problems. Contributing factors often multiply with each tooth lost. There are many reasons for tooth loss, including:

  • Aging
  • Decay
  • Disease
  • Trauma

Proper oral hygiene and regular dental checkups help prevent the onset of diseases like peridontitis that eventually leads to tooth loss.

Problems Resulting From Missing Teeth

Tooth loss can contribute to malnutrition and other health problems related to a significant change in diet. The underlying bone structure of the jaw weakens after tooth loss, resulting in neighboring teeth suffering the same fate. Soon, more teeth may be lost if not adequately addressed. Some of the problems that stem from tooth loss include:

  • Decreased aesthetic appearance and increased embarrassment
  • Problems eating and subsequent malnutrition
  • Bone deterioration and further tooth loss

Treatment Options for Missing Teeth

Traditionally, the loss of a few teeth would lead to pulling remaining healthy teeth and fitting the patient with a set of dentures, which are less than an ideal solution to the problem. Other treatment options that have evolved over the years include.

  • Bridges – Typically, dental bridges require the healthy teeth on either side of a gap to be fitted with a porcelain crown, with an adjoining tooth supported between.
  • Removable appliance – Similar to dentures, removable appliances may fill in the gap left by a missing tooth, but they may become uncomfortable and are subject to being misplaced.
  • Dental implants – This is a permanent option that actually helps strengthen the underlying bone. A titanium screw is placed in the jawbone, replacing the root structure and a porcelain cap affixed to the top. As the tooth is used, it exercises the jawbone, strengthening it.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants are a more elegant and permanent solution. They remain fixed in place so there is no additional care of the structure and no chance of losing the appliances. Because the titanium screws insert into the bone, the action of normal chewing increases, not decreases, bone strength, stabilizing the surrounding teeth as well. The porcelain caps are tough, but can easily be replaced should something happen, the implanted stem or root remains in place.

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