Does Gum Disease Cause Tooth Loss?

Did you know that if gum disease remains untreated, it could reach an advanced stage known as periodontitis? At this stage, you risk losing your teeth! But our team can help. In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about treating tooth loss with dental implants and managing gum disease.

The Link Between Periodontitis and Missing Teeth

How does poor gum health lead to missing teeth? Tooth loss could occur due to periodontitis, the advanced stage of the disease that actually severs the connective tissues between the teeth and gums. When you don’t receive treatment to manage the disease, this increases the likelihood of the later stages. Our team can manage periodontitis following your tooth loss, but we also want to offer a tooth replacement option so you enjoy a whole and healthy smile again.

Managing the Disease

To begin managing the disease, our team will take detailed digital images of your smile from multiple angles. We then use the information to assess your risk and choose the most appropriate treatment option. For minor cases, we could conduct a deep cleaning to remove harmful buildup from the teeth and roots, so we can then manage the issue with traditional cleanings every few months. If you have a more advanced stage, then we could use gentle and precise dental lasers to trim away the diseased tissues so healthy ones can attach to the teeth and make your periodontal issues more manageable. But what about tooth loss?

Dental Implants

If you have missing teeth due to periodontal disease and we have successfully managed the disease, then we can talk about treatment with dental implants. This involves inserting a biocompatible titanium post into the jawbone. Once in place, this will bond with the jawbone and act like a new root. This fortifies and strengthens the jawbone to keep the rest of your smile intact. We then complete the dental implant posts with an abutment and crown, so it looks and functions like a natural tooth. We could also discuss implant dentures if you have more severe tooth loss. Your new teeth have the potential to stay in place for decades to come, possibly a lifetime with proper care and attention!

If you have any questions about how our team will diagnose and treat issues like gum disease and tooth loss, then contact our team today. We can help you enjoy a full and beautiful smile again!

Talk to Dr. Kania About Treating Missing Teeth

We want to help you manage gum disease and address the gaps in your smile! To learn more about addressing missing teeth, or to schedule your appointment, give us a call at our office in Encinitas, CA today at 760-642-0711.