In the USA, nearly 7% of the people who are under the age of 17 have lost at least one of their permanent teeth because of tooth decay and periodontal diseases like gingivitis. And by the age of 50, on average, Americans have lost 12 of their permanent teeth (including wisdom teeth). The prevalence of tooth loss in the USA is so high that 69% of adults who are between the ages of 35 to 44 have lost at least one of their permanent teeth.
Poor oral health and hygiene is the leading cause of tooth loss. But malnutrition, facial traumas (accidents, tripping, falling, getting hit by a hard object, etc.), and certain genetic disorders can also lead to premature tooth loss. In fact, tooth loss due to facial traumas is one of the most common dental emergencies in the USA.
Premature tooth loss can have an adverse effect on our confidence. It makes us more conscious of our smiles and appearance. Moreover, tooth loss can create difficulty while eating and speaking.
Even though permanent teeth can never grow back, dentists can provide various tooth replacement treatments to replace your missing teeth and restore your beautiful smile.
Dental implants are artificial roots for your original teeth. If your teeth have fallen out, and you still have them with you, your teeth can be reattached to your jawbone with the help of dental implants.
The dental implant procedure is a surgical procedure in which a hole is drilled inside your gum tissue and your detached tooth. With the help of metal screws, your tooth will be implanted into your gums and jawbone to hold it in place.
In case an artificial tooth needs to be implanted to replace your lost tooth a metal connector will be used to hold the artificial crown in place.
With time, dental implants fuse with the jawbone and function just like real teeth roots to give your teeth a strong foundation.
Dental bridges are commonly known as replacement teeth that are fixed in place of missing teeth. If you have lost one or more teeth, but are afraid to undergo dental surgery like dental implants, then your dentist may recommend getting a dental bridge to replace your lost teeth.
In a dental bridge, your existing teeth are used as anchors to hold the artificial teeth in place. On the two ends of a dental bridge, dental crowns are placed. A dental bridge looks like a continuous set of teeth with replacement teeth in the middle and crowns on each end.
To fit the dental bridge, your dentist will simply fix the crowns on your existing teeth, and the replacement teeth will fill the place of the missing teeth.
Dental bridges are non-removable and are fixed on your teeth with the help of dental adhesives.
Dental bridges are custom-made to match the shape, size, and color of your teeth. They are made from durable materials like ceramic, porcelain, resin, acrylic, gold, or metal alloys. Generally, dental bridges can last between 5 and 15 years but may require fixing from time to time as the dental adhesives can become dry, and the crowns can lose their grip and come off.
Dentures are removable teeth. They are a painless solution for replacing your missing teeth. There are two types of dentures: complete and partial. For people who have lost a few of their teeth, partial dentures work best. As we age, and may begin to lose our teeth, dentists recommend wearing dentures to restore your smile and reduce the difficulty in eating and talking.
Dentures are made to look and feel like your real teeth. They resemble the shape, size, and color of your teeth. Dentures can be made from ceramic, porcelain, nylon, acrylic, metal, or resin. Dentures have artificial teeth as well as gum tissue.
To wear a denture, you must first rinse your mouth and wash the denture gently with lukewarm water. A dental adhesive should be used to attach the dentures to your jawbones. Ill-fitted dentures can lead to injuries and infections; therefore, you must ensure that your denture fits perfectly and is always clean.