Questions About Life After Tooth Loss

Tooth loss isn’t typically a casual, everyday topic of conversation. In fact, you might not speak about it at all, except to your dentist or those you know who have recently lost one or more teeth. Still, tooth loss is a real threat to your dental health, even if it seems as though all of your teeth are still healthy and secure. Fortunately, in most cases, tooth loss can be preventable. However, when it does occur, Dr. Kania can make life after tooth loss more pleasant and comfortable by replacing your lost teeth with an appropriate number of dental implants.

Does losing a tooth mean my dental health is awful?

Periodontal disease is the most common cause of missing teeth, and the loss can mean that your oral health needs improvement. However, dental decay, fractures, resorption and accidents can cause tooth loss.

Do I have to replace a lost tooth?

Regardless of why you’ve lost a tooth, the most important thing afterwards is to replace it (except in the case of wisdom teeth). With a tooth missing, the ones that remain can shift out of balance, making your bite uneven and exposing your teeth to undue amounts of pressure. The jawbone that supports your teeth can also lose density without all of your teeth roots present to stimulate it. Over time, the weakened jawbone may be unable to support all of your teeth, and you could lose several more in later years.

How do dental implants make tooth replacement better?

Most tooth-replacement options, like dental bridges and dentures, can prevent problems from arising due to teeth shifting and other tooth loss-related imbalances. Dental implants, however, are the only way to replace your lost teeth roots, and therefore the only method of restoring lost function.

ABOUT YOUR SAN DIEGO, CA LASER PERIODONTIST:

As a board-certified periodontist, Dr. Ann M. Kania is specially qualified to diagnose and treat issues concerning periodontal tissue and the supportive structures of a patient’s smile, as well as place dental implants to restore teeth lost to dental disease or trauma. Dr. Kania also offers the Pinhole® Surgical Technique (PST) for minimally-invasive, scalpel-free gum grafting. To seek Dr. Kania’s expertise, contact her office today at (760) 642-0711.