The Main Reason Teeth are Lost
Periodontal (gum) disease, not tooth decay, is the main reason most people lose their teeth. Regrettably, you may not realize that you’re afflicted with the problem until after your teeth are destroyed. Not sure if your teeth are in danger? Symptoms include bleeding gums when you brush or floss and loose or shifting teeth. Even if you’ve been instructed that you need gum surgery, we can help. The latest technological advancements have made it feasible to control gum disease with a multitude of non-surgical methods.
Gum Disease Can Contribute to Heart Disease and Even Stroke
Medical research attests to the fact that gum disease, stroke, and heart disease are linked. A serious matter, since heart disease is commonly fatal, which means treating gum disease is critical to maintaining your overall health. The American Dental Association estimates that 8 out of 10 Americans have periodontal (gum) disease. These numbers should warrant treating gum disease as an epidemic. But because tooth loss is considered merely unpleasant, not directly life-threatening, the potential severity of the disease was unrecognized for too long. However, things are changing.
The American Academy of Periodontology has released information that states: “Studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases.” In short, the bacteria that attack your gums when you have periodontal disease can invade your soft tissues, move into your bloodstream, and create problems in your heart, lungs, and other vital organs.
There is Hope
Most major dental insurance plans cover the treatment of gum disease. While in some advanced cases surgery is the only practical treatment, there are now powerful NON-surgical treatments that, combined with improved dental hygiene, can practically halt the spread of the disease.
What’s So Bad About Losing a Tooth?
No matter how you lose a tooth – gum disease, decay, accident, or other trauma – you should realize this can cause you a great deal of difficulty. Losing even a single tooth can allow your other teeth to move – altering your ability to chew and process nutrients from your food. A variety of other issues may also develop. For example, you may suffer weight gain from changing your diet to softer, carbohydrate-dense foods. Missing teeth allow your facial tissues to sink inward, creating a shriveled or sunken appearance. You may even experience an alteration in your speech patterns. The best way to replace a missing tooth (or missing teeth) is with dental implants. An implant can restore one tooth or several. They’ll look so natural only your dentist will see the difference.
We can help arrest your gum disease and bring your smile back to health.
Give us a call today at (814) 835-3740.
