For many different oral health concerns, tooth loss is the worst-case scenario that you should try to avoid by treating the concern early. When tooth loss does occur, however, it isn’t always something that you see coming, even if it is the result of an existing oral health issue. Today, we examine some of the reasons why people may lose teeth, and why knowing these reasons can help you improve your chances of preventing tooth loss if they occur.
When gum disease becomes worse
The most frequent reason behind adult tooth loss is the presence of severe gum disease. As one of the more common chronic oral health concerns, gum disease can affect a majority of adults at some point in their lives. If it’s allowed to progress long enough and reach its more severe stages, gum disease can erode the supportive structures around your teeth roots and lead to the loss of one or more teeth. However, it doesn’t always lead to tooth loss. When gum disease is detected and treated early, it can often be successfully managed long before it causes such significant damage to your oral health.
When you ignore a damaged tooth
When your tooth becomes damaged to any degree, the best solution for restoring your smile is to repair the damage and restore the tooth’s health and integrity. With custom restorative dental treatment, you can even recover from severe instances of tooth damage and preserve what remains of your healthy, natural tooth structure. However, if you wait too long to treat a fractured or broken tooth, or if the damage is significant enough at the outset, then restoring the tooth might not be a viable option. The tooth may be knocked out of its socket, or be compromised so severely that extracting it is the only way to protect the rest of your oral health.
When a tooth has to be extracted
When you seek treatment for a tooth or oral health condition before tooth loss occurs, the hope is that you’ll be able to save the tooth and avoid having to replace it. However, there are some conditions in which extracting a tooth that’s severely compromised, has lost a substantial amount of support, or has become impacted is the best solution for saving the rest of your smile. The need for tooth extraction often stems from the progression of a tooth or oral health problem, and the best way to avoid it is to have any existing concerns addressed as soon as possible with appropriate restorative treatment.
Learn more about the causes of tooth loss
If you understand the reasons why tooth loss occurs, you’ll have a better chance of preventing it from affecting your smile and oral health. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling the Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX, today at (936) 441-4600. We serve patients from Conroe and all neighboring communities.
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