The Main Culprit: Tooth Decay
Tooth loss is an extremely stressful experience. It can impair patients’ day to day function and basic activities, such as speech, chewing and biting. It can even cause serious mental health complications, such as anxiety and depression. Many patients are worried about the opinions of their peers and this can result in rumination over the fact.
Tooth loss is often caused by tooth decay. Tooth decay is a very common dental condition, however it can be prevented. To prevent tooth decay make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss your teeth daily and use a bactericidal mouthwash regularly.
Another important cause of tooth loss is advanced gum disease. Both tooth decay and gum disease are caused by oral microbial overgrowth, which is caused by eating large amounts of sugar and poor oral hygiene.
Advanced gum disease can occur due to the bacteria causing chronic inflammation in the gum, which leads to permanent damage and potentially tooth loss if left untreated.
If tooth loss has already occurred to you, dental implants can help restore your smile. If you are interested in getting dental implants in Herefordshire, contact Warrendale Dental.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants can permanently replace lost teeth assuming successful implantation and healing. Dental implants are small screws made out of titanium, which are inserted into the jawbone through surgery.
Titanium is a metal with special properties with regards to medicine, as the body is capable of recognising it as if it was its own tissue leading to the integration of titanium implants into the tissues surrounding them.
Thus, dental implants can be almost as strong and in some cases even stronger than natural teeth. Dental implants – if cared for properly – can last for a lifetime and chewing with them can be just as easy as with natural teeth.
The surgery can be done under anaesthesia or sedation if you feel anxious about the surgery, however local anaesthetics which are used in the standard procedure can also do a great job at minimising pain and discomfort associated with the surgery.
Alternatives Of Dental Implants
Dental implants are not the only method for replacing lost teeth, there are numerous different treatment types that help tooth loss. These include dentures and bridges.
Bridges are artificial teeth, which are attached onto a natural tooth neighbouring the slot of the missing tooth. Dentures are also artificial teeth, however these – unlike bridges or dental implants – are removable.
The artificial teeth in the case of dentures are attached to a removable frame, which is made out of either metal or some type of plastic. The main advantage of dentures and bridges over dental implants is their minimal invasiveness and relatively low cost.
However, these are not a solution for the disintegration of the jawbone that starts to occur after a tooth is lost. Dental implants account for this issue and prevent the decrease in bone density of the jawbone. If you are interested in getting dental implants in Herefordshire, visit the website of Warrendale Dental for their contact details and book an appointment.