Teeth are one of the most important aspects of one’s personality, and more often than not, they’re the first impression you give to someone. Therefore, people are usually more attentive to making their teeth look perfect, and a missing tooth can certainly cause a great deal of embarrassment and discomfort to its loser. Below, we will discuss the causes of single tooth loss, how to prevent it, and how to treat it.
Natural Teeth
Before we embark on our journey to understanding teeth loss, one must first take a glance at the normal tooth composition so that you can understand how everything works. A single tooth is made up of three layers on top of each other: the outer layer is called the enamel, the middle layer is the dentin, which forms the tough tooth casement, and the inner layer is the pulp. The tooth pulp is a connective tissue filled with blood vessels and nerve endings that carry the sensations and pain.
Tooth loss starts through the loss of the supporting structures that fix the tooth in place. This makes the teeth looser and more prone to being removed.
Types of Tooth Loss
There are two types of tooth loss: enamel and bone tooth loss. Enamel tooth loss means that the outer surface of the tooth becomes eroded, exposing the middle dentin layer. Bone tooth loss means that the entirety of the tooth is lost from its place.
What Causes Tooth Loss?
Tooth loss is a complex topic, with many factors coming into play. Age, sex, and social factors play an important role.
- Genetics: a lost tooth can simply be due to your genes. Someone can be born with a missing tooth, which usually occurs with congenital anomalies such as Down Syndrome. On the other hand, the problem might be with the development of permanent teeth due to abnormalities in the shape of the jaw.
- Tooth decay: which is a rather bothersome dental condition. It occurs due to a lack of oral hygiene, causing bacteria to build up around the teeth. The bacteria start producing acid, which erodes the enamel and extends into the tooth layers. This can start with white or brown spots on the tooth, which can extend to become cavities. It is associated with pain and hypersensitivity to hot and cold.
- Periodontal disease: These are diseases that affect the gums. The gum becomes infected and swollen, weakening it. As the gum is important to support the tooth, this causes this supported structure to become weakened, and the tooth becomes looser and falls off.
- Trauma: this is especially common with little kids. Milk teeth have weaker attachments; in addition, as kids are more inquisitive to surrounding environments, they are more prone to falls and injuries that yank off the teeth. Adults are not safe, as some forms of sports can cause the teeth to be forcibly removed.
Proper oral hygiene and good oral health as a means of prevention
Preventing single tooth loss is an important topic to be discussed, this is especially true for people who are more prone to it, such as diabetics. Therefore, one must be thoroughly educated about the importance of proper oral hygiene and how to create the best environment for your teeth. First and foremost is to keep your gums and teeth clean, to avoid bacteria growth. This is done through proper teeth cleaning, where you remove build-up plaques and food debris to avoid bacteria build-up. This is further improved by flossing, where you make sure any bacteria is removed. In addition, regular scaling every six months, where your dentist removes any accumulated, hardened-up plaques.
Replacing a missing tooth
The problem of a missing tooth can be easily solved. Firstly, your dentist will start by taking your medical history. This excludes any causes that might lead to future tooth loss, such as diabetes. Then, he’ll proceed through with the oral examination to not the site of the missing tooth, the condition of the surrounding gum and the overall condition of the teeth. An x-ray might be necessary for further assessment. After reviewing the condition, he’ll start by discussing the treatment plan, which will most likely be a dental implant.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a small titanium screw that is surgically placed in relation to the bone. This affixed structure then acts like a tooth root, allowing the addition of a prosthetic tooth.
There are two types of dental implants, according to their relation to the bone
- Endosteal: this means that the implant is placed in the bone, whether it be the jaw or the skull. This is usually the standard practice, provided that you have adequate bone thickness for the screw to be surgically drilled into. These can be single, to replace one tooth, multiple, or a full arch
- Subperiosteal: this means that the implant is placed onto the bone. This type is fixed by a metal framework that holds onto the gums. This is used in case there isn’t adequate bone thickness for drilling.
- Zygomatic
Dental implant procedure
It is a multiple-stage procedure where a lot of factors should be taken into account. After the initial assessment, your surgeon now has an accurate grasp of the condition and can start with the placement of the implant. Under anaesthesia, the surgeon will start drilling the place of the implant, acting as the enclave that will house the implant. This is guided using a CBCT scan, and the implant is inserted. This is then followed by an abutment placement, which is the part that connects the implant to the restoration. The next step is osseointegration, which is the time period when the implant left under the gum starts to fuse with the preexisting bone. This can take six weeks and up to six months. Lastly comes the process of restoration, where a crown, bridge or implant is attached to the implant. This can take an additional 3-5 appointments.
Healing time for the dental implant
This is a rather tedious procedure; however, most patients recover within the two-week mark. However, full recovery is achieved after 3-6 months.
Why DentSpa?
Choosing where to get treatment for a lost tooth is crucial, and DentSpa stands out as a premier option for several compelling reasons:
- Top-Notch Staff: A dental implant requires a high degree of skill and accuracy. At DentSpa, we pride ourselves on hiring highly trained, skilled, and well-respected professionals. This ensures you receive the optimum quality of care.
- Excellent material: We believe only the best should be offered to our clientele, so we invest in only the highest-quality dental material. This not only provides a pleasant experience but also ensures the longevity of the care offered.
- State-of-the-art technology: Only the newest and most technologically advanced instruments and devices are provided in our practice. This facilitates the procedure and eventually creates a pleasant experience for you.
In the end
A missing tooth can be bothersome, whether for cosmetic or functional reasons. Whether you opt for an implant, bridge, or denture, DentSpa can provide the best service. Book your appointment now!
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