If you have experienced tooth loss, visit our dentist in Marylebone to find out about possible treatments.
What can cause tooth loss?
Tooth loss is a condition that affects a surprisingly large amount of people. The consequences are serious, and can get even more serious if tooth loss is left without treatment. The consequences are not just limited to the impairment in one’s smile’s appearance: tooth loss can cause speaking difficulties, it can make chewing and eating more painful and challenging than it should be, and if left without treatment, the time dependent progressive degradation of the gingiva, the jawbone and the surrounding tissues can occur, which may prevent dental implantations from being successful. But what can cause tooth loss?
One of the most obvious reasons is dental injury. Certain occupations, sports, or leisure activities might increase the chance of dental injuries. Dental injuries may affect only a small part of the tooth, and cause the chipping of the enamel, or in more severe cases the dentin as well. However, dental injuries can also result in the loss of a tooth, or even multiple teeth. In these cases, the reimplantation of the original tooth might be possible, however it depends on the amount of time the tooth has spent outside of the mouth. Another major cause of tooth loss is tooth decay.
Tooth decay is most prevalent in Western societies, where the dietary intake of simple sugars exceeds that of other parts of the world. The reason for this is the following: the mouth contains a number of commensal bacterial species, which naturally occur in everyone’s oral cavity as part of the healthy microflora, just like gut bacteria! These species’ main nutrients are simple sugars, and as an end product of their metabolism they excrete organic acids.
These organic acids are capable of dissolving the tooth’s mineral content, however this is not a problem normally, as the saliva replenishes the mineral content. The issues start to occur when the dietary intake of simple sugars exceeds a healthy amount, and the organic acids dissolve the teeth’s mineral content at a faster rate than the saliva replenishes it. This can result in tooth decay. When tooth decay progresses through the enamel and the dentin and reaches the pulp tissue, it can result in tooth loss.
What type of treatments are available for tooth loss?
Tooth loss can be devastating, and it can result in multiple complications and inconveniences if left untreated, therefore it is important to start getting treatment on it as soon as possible. If you have been through tooth loss, do not hesitate to contact our dentist in Marylebone and book a consultation appointment to evaluate your personal circumstances. Usually there is no reason to worry, as modern technology has allowed the development of titanium implants. These implants are inserted into the jawbone, and behave like natural teeth would, thus integrate into the bone through a process called osseointegration, which equips titanium implants with improved strength, durability and a long lifespan, if successfully implanted. It is important however, to evaluate whether dental implants are right for you, as in the case of certain conditions, such as gingiva issues, dental implants are contraindicated.