Tooth loss affects a large percentage of adults to varying degrees, and it happens often enough that many people consider it a natural part of the aging process. However, most cases of tooth loss occur from highly preventable conditions, such as dental disease, and could be prevented with the right level of care and maintenance. At our Lafayette, LA, dental office, protecting and preserving your smile is our top priority, and that includes helping you improve your chances of avoiding tooth loss with highly customized treatments and services.
Understanding why teeth are lost
Nearly everything about your oral health is unique, and that includes your specific risks for conditions that could lead to tooth loss. Therefore, your specific risks for tooth loss may differ from everyone else’s, and protecting your smile requires understanding those risks. For example, gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss, and some people may be more prone to developing it than others. If you play sports, then you may be more likely to lose a tooth due to accidental impact.
Effective preventive measures
In the case of accidental tooth trauma and loss, the most effective preventive measure is to wear a protective mouthguard. However, preventing dental conditions like gum disease requires ongoing, excellent hygiene practices and routine professional dental care. That include attending a dental checkup and cleaning appointment at least once every six months, or as often as your dentist recommends it. It also means undergoing recommended treatment for any conditions that develop, such as gingivitis (early gum disease), as soon as they develop. If you fail to prevent gum disease, then addressing and controlling it in its earliest stages is your best chance at stopping it from leading to tooth loss.
What to do if you lose teeth
If you lose one tooth, then your risks of losing more teeth will automatically be higher. That’s due to several factors, but most importantly, it results from your jawbone growing weaker due to the loss of your teeth roots. The only way to replace the roots and reestablish the stimulation that keeps your jawbone healthy is to replace your lost teeth with an appropriate number of dental implants. After one or more implant posts are inserted into your jawbone, they can support a dental crown, bridge, or denture to restore your smile with highly lifelike results.
Find out how you can avoid tooth loss
Tooth loss may be common, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prevent it with a consistently good routine of dental care and maintenance. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, call the office of Michael J. Young, DDS, in Lafayette, LA, at 337-237-6453. We proudly serve patients who live in Breaux Bridge, Broussard, Scott, Youngsville, and all surrounding communities.