When we lose a tooth, this leaves behind a gap that could be a source of embarrassment, and also impact your overall oral health. In today’s blog, your Astoria, NY, dentist is discussing the dangers of tooth loss and why treatment with a dental prosthetic is often crucial for avoiding major changes to your smile!
The Causes of Missing Teeth
What happens to cause our natural teeth to become lost? For some, this could be due to an injury that knocks them out, or as a result of deep decay or infection that causes them to fall out or require extraction to protect the rest of the smile. The most common cause is periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease. This later stage causes the tissues that connect your teeth and gums to deteriorate, causing them to become loose and lost. As part of your treatment, we will need to diagnose the cause of your missing teeth.
The Dangers for Your Smile
The gaps in your smile caused by tooth loss could impact the position of surrounding teeth. As they drift, this causes dental misalignment and leads to a greater risk of tooth decay and gum disease. For others, the imbalance and jaw joint strain that arises as a result could lead to an increased risk of TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding), causing serious discomfort. The lack of roots could cause the body to suspend the flow of nutrients to the jawbone around the missing teeth. Without these nutrients, the bone tissue begins to lose mass and density, causing further tooth loss and a prematurely aged appearance.
Prosthetic Dentistry
To help treat your missing teething restore function to your smile, we could recommend prosthetics. For one to three missing teeth in a row, we could place a custom-made and lifelike dental bridge. If you have multiple gaps in your smile, or total tooth loss, we then create and place partial or full sets of dentures. For increased stability, better longevity, and a more lifelike appearance, we could place dental implants or even use them to secure a fixed denture. Each option is customized for your smile. If you have any questions about treating tooth loss, or about our lifelike dental prosthetics, then contact our team today. Now is a great time to see us, as you can use your 2021 dental insurance benefits before they expire at the end of the year.
Do You Have Questions About Prosthetic Dentistry?
We have lifelike and dependable options to address minor and severe cases of tooth loss, which also offer a natural-looking appearance. To learn more about replacing your missing teeth, then schedule a consultation by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
