If you lose a tooth, it’s vitally important that you seek a replacement tooth treatment right away. Not only will this allow your smile to look complete again, it will also protect the health of your smile. Our O’Fallon dental office provides dental treatments to help you smile after tooth loss. Today we’re going to review some of those treatments, and we’ll talk about what causes tooth loss in the first place.
Teeth can fall out because they’re traumatized in an accident, or because they succumb to decay over time.
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The most common cause of tooth loss is periodontal disease. The same bacteria that make your gums swell and bleed can also eat away at the tissues that hold your teeth in place.
· Likewise, cavities can damage your teeth to such an extent that your teeth have to be pulled or they fall out. Cavities attack your teeth from the outer dental enamel and move inward toward the dental pulp—weakening your teeth as they go.
· If you’re in an accident and your tooth is abruptly knocked out, you may end up needing a replacement tooth.
When it comes to choosing a replacement tooth treatment, you should choose what option fits your life and needs. Dentures are a traditional replacement tooth option. Dentures sit on top of the gums and are kept in place by specially formulated adhesive. You’ll take them out to clean them and to sleep.
Dental implants, on the other hand, are permanently embedded in your jawbone. These replacement teeth end up looking and feeling just like your real teeth! Because they are surgically implanted into the jaw, you’ll care for dental implants as you’d care for your natural teeth.
Our O’Fallon dentists will help you decide what type of treatment is right for you. Working together we can keep your smile strong and stunning for years to come!