Their called permanent teeth, but most people don’t even bat an eye at the fact that they can lose them. Their moniker should hint towards the idea that your adult teeth are meant to last a lifetime, and losing them isn’t a natural or benign process. Fortunately, you have a wide range of options for rebuilding your smile if ever you should lose one or more teeth, but keeping your natural smile intact by preventing tooth loss is a more beneficial option. To keep all of your natural teeth, however, you must first understand how to lose them.
Neglect Them
The suggestion that you brush and floss your teeth at least twice every day isn’t designed to control your consumption of toothpaste; it’s mandatory to combat the bacteria that dwell in your mouth. Every day, these germs form plaque that protects them, and as bacteria cling to your teeth, they release acids and toxins that lead to destructive dental diseases. Tooth decay and gum disease are common reasons for tooth loss (gum disease is the most prevalent), and both stem from poor and neglectful oral hygiene practices.
Traumatize Them
When the crown of a tooth is cracked or fractured, it can often be repaired with a manmade dental crown that’s placed over it. If you hesitate to treat it, the exposed inner tooth structure can become infected, and the infection might destroy the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels. Severe infection, or a cracked root, might lead to the need for an extraction, costing you the tooth even if it isn’t completely knocked out.
Extract Them
Disease and damage aren’t the only reasons for extracting a tooth. If you suffer from malocclusion (teeth misalignment) and a tooth is so misaligned that it would interfere with attempts to straighten your smile, then removing the tooth may facilitate orthodontic treatment. Impacted wisdom teeth, which can’t fully erupt through the gum line because they’re blocked by other teeth, are routinely extracted to restore a smile’s tranquility. Leaving an impacted tooth alone will allow it to push against the others, damaging them and throwing your bite off balance.
About Your Livonia Dentist:
As a highly experienced general and cosmetic dentist, Dr. Stewart is dedicated to helping all of our patients enjoy the benefits of a healthy, beautiful smile. James Steward, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.