Damage and Avulsion
Accidental damage is one of the more well-known causes for adult tooth loss, although it is not the most common. When a tooth is subjected to enough force, it can be jarred loose from the periodontal tissues that keep it securely rooted in your jawbone. Enough force can completely dislodge the tooth root from the socket (known as tooth avulsion), and if the tooth cannot be placed back in the socket, then it will have to be replaced. Even if the tooth remains, the damage it sustains (i.e., crack, fracture, or break) can render it unable to perform its functions, and in severe cases, tooth extraction may be the only option.
Poor Dental Health
Even if your teeth remain whole, they can be lost when the structures that support them are compromised. Gum disease, which destroys your gums, periodontal tissues, and underlying jawbone, is the number-one cause of adult tooth loss in the United States. It attacks by causing unchecked gum inflammation and recession, making your gums pull away from your teeth as the bacteria spread underneath the tissues. The destruction it causes can lead to the loss of one or more teeth, or the need to extract them, by the time you seek treatment for your gum disease.
What Should Happen Next
If you do lose a tooth, or have one extracted, then replacing it can be vital to maintaining your bite’s function, your smile’s beauty, and your long-term dental health. In many cases, we might recommend dental implants, which are prosthetic teeth roots inserted into the jawbone to support your appropriate dental prosthesis.
ABOUT YOUR CONROE DENTIST:
The Dental Centre of Conroe, John M Richards DDS delivers distinctive cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry for residents of Conroe, Houston, The Woodlands, Willis, Huntsville, and the neighboring communities. For more information about our services, or to schedule an appointment, contact us by calling (936) 441-4600.