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Never Ignore A Missing Tooth!!

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Never Ignore A Missing Tooth!!

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “Never Ignore A Missing Tooth!!.” The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

^{^[1]}Do humans need teeth to live longer and is an absence of teeth, or having a certain degree of tooth loss, associated with a shorter lifespan? If so, is the association manifested through specific disease processes? Understanding both, the strength and the mechanisms of any association relies on the presence of scientific evidence to support or refute the notion of an association. In addition, a better appreciation of the interplay between the mouth and the rest of the human body can further our ability to identify how certain oral conditions might impact mortality and can guide interventions that will yield the greatest systemic impact.

Poor oral health has been found to be associated with poor general health, lower quality of life and high morbidity. The eventual outcome of periodontal disease and dental caries, the two most common dental diseases is loss of the affected teeth and hence the number of teeth or tooth count is a proxy to the cumulative oral health status in a person.

There is evidence to show that number of teeth might be associated with mortality. Various mechanisms proposed include, effect of tooth count on masticatory ability and hence ability to maintain adequate nutrition; associated bacteremia due to oral infections that might have caused tooth loss. Various reports have also shown that periodontal disease, tooth loss and overall poor oral health are more prevalent in individuals from lower socioeconomic strata, who are less well educated, and who have poorer and/or less frequent access to care.

The relationship of dental condition and human mortality remains poorly understood. Such circumstances also are observed with greater frequency in individuals who have other chronic conditions including coronary artery disease, cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis or who have addictions/habits like smoking, that, unless managed successfully, are associated with shorter life spans. A review by Polzer et al. examined association between number of teeth and all-cause as well as circulatory mortality.

In this systematic review, we describe and summarize the current evidence describing the association between tooth count and mortality from any cause.

^{^[2]}Teeth are required for chewing, grinding, speech, aesthetics, structural stability, and for the well-being of an individual. Maintaining a good oral health is a key source for social, economic, and personal development of individuals. With the loss of teeth, the above purposes are impaired resulting in physical and physiological, psychological disturbance to the individual.Treatment plans are formulated based on oral examination, and clinicians view point. Conversely, now, equal importance is given to other factors such as patient’s demand for treatment and self-reported oral status. There is a direct relationship between the number of teeth present and total satisfaction with oral status. With the developments and awareness in dentistry and improvement in oral health with decreasing edentulousness in many countries, a higher number of people tend to retain more teeth until later in life.

^{^[3]}Tooth loss could result from caries, periodontal disease, trauma, infection, malignancies, or failed endodontic treatments and can present adverse consequences on the remaining dentition and on the patients’ general wellbeing.

Drifting of adjacent teeth and supra-eruption of the opposing teeth to the edentulous space in their study which looked at positional changes of adjacent teeth to edentulous spaces. Also, Kini and Muliya6 observed in a case report supra-eruption of a first mandibular premolar into the space left by an upper first premolar whose coronal tissue had broken down although the whole tooth was not lost.

In addition to the drifting and supra-eruption mentioned above is a possible facial/oral asymmetry or collapse that may result following loss of teeth. Martins-Junior and Marques showed that premature loss of a lower right deciduous canine in an 8-year old patient resulted in deviation of the lower arch from the midline to the affected side just as Tallgren et al8 reported facial collapse in patients with teeth and alveolar bone loss.

Mastication as a consequence of tooth loss are known by many patients and this may be why people in this class of condition impose dietary restriction upon themselves and thereby incurring health risk. In addition, loss of posterior teeth has been associated with impaired chewing and inadequate nutrition, the patients having the tendency to over-prepare food in an attempt to make it soft thereby loosing important nutrients.

Some studies recorded more than one consequence of tooth loss at a time. Failure to replace a posterior missing tooth may disrupt balance in stomatognathic system and trigger chains of adverse reaction such as drifting, rotation or supereruption of teeth. The consequences of these loss of teeth on the patient include altered speech, ineffective mastication, loss of self confidence, concern about appearance, and feeling of bereavement, while a study reported higher likelihood of developing ischemic stroke among study subjects with periodontal disease and less than 24 teeth in the mouth compared with those with more than 25 teeth.

Despite the enormous adverse effects of tooth loss on functional, social and psychological wellbeing of the patients as well as on the remaining dentition, many patients in our environment do not replace their missing teeth. This could be due to poor awareness that failure to replace missing teeth may cause the remaining dentition to further deteriorate. Studies have been done on socio-psychological effects of tooth loss on patient but there is dearth of information on patients’ awareness of the consequences of tooth loss on the remaining dentition.

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

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The Importance Of Restoring Missing Teeth With Implants

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The Importance Of Restoring Missing Teeth With Implants

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “The Importance Of Restoring Missing Teeth With Implants”. The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

^{^[1]}Dental implants and the attached restoration are the closest matches to natural teeth available as far as tooth replacements are concerned. Dental implants look, feel, and function like actual teeth, so it is hard to tell them apart. Most patients get a renewed confidence in their smile, which is believed to augment physical appeal and improve social interactions.

If you are missing a tooth, the longer you wait before replacing it, the more you risk oral health complications like bone deterioration and dental misalignment. Getting dental implants restores the full function of your smile. To learn more about the procedure, book an appointment with the dentist for an examination and consultation.

^{^[2]}Advantages Of Dental Implants

Although there are other ways to replace missing teeth, such as dentures or fixed bridges, dental implants offer benefits that other teeth replacement solutions simply cannot. The following are four of the more notable benefits of dental implants for dental restoration.

Natural Appearance

Many patients are amazed by the cosmetic benefits of dental implants. The fact is missing teeth cause an issue with the appearance of the person’s smile, and this leads many to feel less confidence when at work or in social situations. Fortunately, dental implants provide a long-term solution to this issue, and they look essentially identical to natural teeth. Everyone should feel confident when they smile, and no one should have to feel insecure about their appearance due to missing teeth.

Long-Term Solution

Dental implants typically last much longer than dentures or fixed bridges. In fact, it is not uncommon for dental implants to last for 20 years or more without needing to be repaired or replaced. However, with that said, it is important to take good care of dental implants to get the most out of them and wear them for decades. To ensure the longevity of implants, patients are encouraged to practice good oral hygiene, avoid harmful foods and visit the dentist regularly.

Preserve Bone Health

When compared to teeth replacement solutions, dental implants preserve bone health far better. Other options such as traditional dentures and fixed bridges are typically not effective in preventing the bone loss that often occurs following tooth loss. Dental implants are placed into the bone inside the jaw that supports the artificial tooth. Subsequently, the bone still serves a vital role in supporting teeth, which ensures it remains strong and healthy. By preserving the bone, people with implants are able to keep a cosmetically pleasing appearance and prevent further oral health complications.

Easy To Keep Clean

For the most part, patients clean and care for dental implants the same way they would for natural teeth, which involves brushing several times each day, flossing and using mouthwash daily, and checking for any signs of gum complications or issues with the implant or existing natural teeth. On the other hand, removable dentures are often more of a burden to care for, which typically involves removing and soaking the dentures in a cleaning solution each night. In other words, dental implants are the closest one can get to replacing missing natural teeth long-term.

^{^[3]}The Importance Of Replacing Missing Teeth

Missing even one tooth can affect your smile. Over time, missing teeth can cause the skin around the mouth to sag because the structure of the teeth does not properly support it. Also, patients with missing teeth may begin to experience difficulty chewing, eating, and speaking.

Replacing missing teeth not only helps with the aesthetics of a smile, it can also prevent further damage to the teeth. Patients with missing teeth have a higher risk of developing periodontal disease, dental decay, infection, and further tooth loss. Replacing missing teeth can restore health to your smile and, due to advancements in dentistry, is now more functional and natural looking than ever before.

Dental Implants:

Dental implants have one of the highest success rates among other missing tooth replacement options. Dental implants are tiny, titanium post that is surgically implanted into the jaw bone. Over time, the dental implant will fuse into the jaw bone, creating a stable foundation for a dental crown, denture, or dental bridge. With proper dental care, your dental implants can last many years.

Dentures:

Dentures are traditionally used to replace a full arch or set of missing teeth. For a more secure solution, dentures can be secured using dental implants. Patients won’t need to worry about slippage with implant secured dentures.

Dental Bridges:

Dental bridges are typically attached to adjacent teeth to replace consecutive missing teeth. For a more stable solution, dental bridges can also be secured using dental implants. Implant secured dental bridges do not rely on adjacent teeth for support.

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article Compiled by Apple Tree Dental.