What Are Your Biggest Risks of Tooth Loss?

For many people, tooth loss is the biggest threat to their smile. While it doesn’t always have to be inevitable, there are many different risk factors that can make you significantly more likely to lose one or more teeth in the future. Fortunately, understanding and recognizing those risks can go a long way in helping you avoid losing teeth and needing to replace them. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we can help you identify what your biggest tooth loss risks are, and design an appropriate treatment plan to help you reduce or eliminate them.

Periodontal disease – the greatest risk

The most frequent cause of adult tooth loss is severe gum disease, or periodontitis. Because it affects nearly 70-80 percent of people at some point in their lives, it may be your biggest risk factor, as well. Preventing gum disease is the most effective way of controlling its risks to your smile. Yet, if you’ve developed gum disease already, then you may still have a chance of avoiding tooth loss by seeking expert periodontal treatment as soon as possible. Your periodontist will help you treat, control, and manage your gum disease before it can cause enough damage to lead to tooth loss.

Neglecting currently missing teeth

If you’ve already lost one or more teeth, then it might seem like the fight to preserve your smile is over. However, you still have plenty of healthy, natural teeth left, and with your others missing, those that remain are at a heightened risk of being lost, as well. Part of that risk is because of how your remaining teeth may shift out of place. Another is the loss of stimulation from your teeth roots, which causes your jawbone to lose mass and density over time. If you replace the lost roots with one or more dental implants, then you may have a much greater chance of preventing the loss of more.

How to mitigate your risks of tooth loss

Because everyone’s specific risks of tooth loss are different, the most effective way of addressing yours is to seek routine professional care and maintenance from your dentist or periodontist. Regular examinations create a baseline for your oral health that helps us track significant changes that could indicate heightened risks. By noting these changes, we can more effectively help you treat any developing conditions and successfully control any increased risks of tooth loss.

Lower your risks of tooth loss with expert care

There are several different potential risks of tooth loss, but with proper care and maintenance, you can successfully lower your biggest risks. For more information, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.