Because periodontal disease, or gum disease, is the most common cause of tooth loss, its presence is one of the most frequent warnings. The reason it affects so many people is because its earliest signs, such as slightly bleeding and swollen gums, don’t always seem serious. If you ignore those signs long enough, then your gum disease can erode enough of your gums and jawbone structure that tooth loss or extraction is inevitable by the time you seek treatment. The best way to avoid this is to visit your periodontist as soon as you notice any signs of gum disease.
One of the common symptoms of periodontal disease is the loosening of one or more teeth, which results from the erosion of your gums, periodontal ligaments, and jawbone structure. However, loose teeth don’t have to indicate gum disease; it can also result from unnoticed damage to your tooth or its supportive structures, or a number of other potential causes. In most cases, though, the looseness means that your tooth isn’t far from losing all of its support, causing it to fall out or require extraction so that your periodontist can replace it.
Whether you’ve lost a tooth to gum disease or any other reason, its absence can also have a detrimental effect on the surrounding oral and periodontal tissues. If left unchecked, this can lead to diminished support for your remaining teeth, leading to an increased risk of losing them, as well. The only way to effectively stop this erosion is to replace the roots of your lost teeth, which is possible with the help of one or more dental implants. The implant posts are inserted into your jawbone, replacing your lost teeth roots to support a custom crown, bridge, or denture. Every time you bite, your implant-supported prosthesis will stimulate your jawbone to ensure that it receives an ample supply of nutrients.
Tooth loss can several potential causes, but most of them can be prevented if you pay attention to and limit your highest risk factors. For more information, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.
When should you seek treatment with a periodontist? Understanding the warning signs of issues like…
When you have serious periodontal issues, this could mean uncomfortable symptoms and even the risk…
When you have gum disease, we like to take a holistic approach to manage the…
When you receive treatment for gum disease, or if you have gingivitis, then treatment to…
When possible, we want to offer care in the initial inflammation stages to help manage…
When you come to our team for treatment, we will plan care with detail using…