Losing a permanent tooth can be one of the most unfortunate accidents that can occur to a dentist’s patient. Unlike baby teeth or a fractured bone, adult tooth loss (also called tooth avulsion) is permanent. Your body cannot create new teeth after your permanent teeth come in. Though there are treatments such as dental implants and bridges than can “solve” the problem of tooth loss, (which we’ll discuss in our next blogs), it’s much less expensive to maintain your natural teeth, and patients should work diligently to prevent the loss of teeth because of factors within their control.
What Can Cause Adult Tooth Loss?
- Poor Oral Hygiene — If you don’t take care of your teeth, you are at a higher risk of suffering from cavities or gum disease. Both of these contribute greatly to the possibility of tooth loss in adults.
- Dental Habits — Some problems such as bruxism (“grinding”) can cause the destruction of teeth and eventually lead to eventual tooth loss in patients.
- High Contact Activity — Participating in vigorous activity and sports with high degree of physical contact puts you at higher risk of possible accidental tooth loss. Teeth aren’t perfect, and it can take one bad hit to the jaw to lose a tooth (or teeth)! One way to prevent this is to wear a mouthguard while involved in sports.
- Not Visiting Your Dentist — We know that your dentist office is always hounding you to come in for a check-up, but it really is necessary to ensure you stay at the peak of oral health. If you are too busy or afraid of your dentist, you are only putting yourself more at risk of undesired ailments such as tooth loss. Likewise, a visit to the dentist is not always cheap, but preventative care is much cheaper than an unexpected emergency procedure.
If you have more questions about permanent tooth loss, or if it’s time for your biannual appointment,contact the Lakeway Center for Cosmetic & Family Dentistry today.