Not all patients may realize how important your oral health is to your overall health. The mouth is considered “the gateway to the body”, so any issues that the mouth experiences can have adverse effects on the rest of your body.
Imagine what issues you could experience when you start to lose your teeth.
Tooth loss is not something to take lightly. Without treatment, it can become difficult to eat, speak, or feel confident in your appearance. For these reasons and more, we recommend dental implants as a preferred treatment for tooth loss.
There are both habitual and accidental ways to lose your teeth. Most lose their teeth as a result of bad habits: neglecting to brush, an unhealthy diet, smoking or alcohol abuse, or refusing to see the dentist. Other times it’s accidental: old age, a consequence of disease, or from physical impact trauma to the face.
The most common causes of tooth loss are age and disease; both of which can be monitored by a dentist. Each time you visit the dentist, the dentist and hygienists will keep track of any changes in your teeth and oral health, no matter how minute it may seem. That way, any treatments needed can be administered early, to prevent more serious consequences. But when patients avoid the dentist, their teeth can unknowingly deteriorate. Over time, it becomes more difficult or expensive to treat these issues.
By addressing tooth loss as soon as it occurs, patients can increase their chances for keeping the rest of their smile stable. Investing in dental implants can help patients avoid losing other teeth, reduce exposure to disease, or limit changes in facial structure.
Every part of your body works together like a well-maintained machine. As such, even minor changes in your oral health can subtly influence other parts of your body.
In 2008, the Academy of General Dentistry published a survey conducted with 1,100 of their members about common problems associated with tooth loss in their patients. Unsurprisingly, there was a high response for the psychological effects of this condition:
Dentists have long known the emotional side effects of tooth loss, and also cited it as a partial reason why patients didn’t seek treatment. Many tooth loss patients either didn’t want or didn’t know about the tooth replacement treatments available to them.It’s why we insist on securing your smile dental implants, especially after losing one or two teeth.
A dental implant can prevent your neighboring teeth from shifting, and reduce your risk of jawbone deterioration or infection. But that’s not all: we’ve also seen firsthand the emotional impact of having a complete smile again. We want all our patients to look and feel their best, and strive to make sure that our dental implants are high-quality and long-lasting.
Dental implants are one of the best tried-and-true methods of smile restoration. They are subtle, natural-feeling, and best of all can help your oral health to recover from the trauma of tooth loss. Since dental implants are directly placed into the jawbone, they undergo a unique fusion process called osseointegration. As a result, dental implants are permanently placed in the mouth, adding support and functionality to your jawbone and smile. No other non-implant treatment can achieve kind of permanence.
We also ensure that your dental implant looks real. There’s nothing more conscientious than realizing that everyone can tell you have fake teeth. But Dr. Brace and our team work hard to design your implant to be subtle and beautiful, blending into your smile like a natural.
We strongly believe that an informed patient is a more satisfied patient. If you have any questions about dental implants or the long-term effects of tooth loss, please contact us to set up a $1 consultation. We want to restore your smile again, and it can be achieved through dental implant treatment.
Advanced gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults. Fortunately, you can help prevent gum-related tooth loss by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. Tooth loss can also result from severe decay, which is best prevented through excellent oral hygiene.
It’s crucial to schedule biannual exams and cleanings with Dr. Brace so we can ensure your teeth and gums are in excellent condition. During these visits, we’ll also notify you of any concerns so we can perform the necessary treatments before they require more invasive procedures.
There are a variety of options available for treating tooth loss, including dentures and dental bridges. However, no other restorations compare to the natural look and feel of dental implants. Dental implants are a stable and durable tooth replacement option that won’t move around or slip when you’re talking. Best of all, they can last a lifetime with proper care.
Dental implants are placed directly into your jawbone for unmatched stability and longevity. Once the process is complete, your implants will look and feel just like your natural teeth. If you’re missing more than one tooth, we also offer implant-supported bridges and dentures.
For more information on our dental implant solutions, contact our St. Louis office by calling 314-762-6784 and schedule a consultation with Dr. Brace.
While replacing a missing tooth isn’t entirely necessary, it’s definitely a good idea, even if it’s a back molar that no one can see. Missing a tooth, even just one, can cause permanent damage to your entire mouth. Dental implants can help prevent this while restoring your smile.
Taking care of your oral health by brushing and flossing daily and keeping up with your regular dental cleanings is the best thing you can do to prevent tooth loss. Wearing a mouthguard during sports, using a mouthguard to prevent teeth grinding at night, and remembering that teeth are not tools will also help. However, accidents can still happen, and you may be genetically prone to losing your teeth.
Dr. Barry Brace
St. Louis County Dental Partnership
469 S Kirkwood Rd
St. Louis, MO
USA 63122
New Patients:
314-762-6784
Current Patients:
314-332-1307
Monday: 7:30am - 7:30pm
Tuesday: 7:30am - 5:00pm
Wednesday: 7:30am - 7:30pm
Thursday: 7:30am - 6:00pm
Friday: 7:30am - 4:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 1:00pm
Sunday: Closed