Cracks and Breaks
Once all the baby teeth have been replaced by permanent teeth, the loss of a tooth should cease being a cause for celebration. Actually, these events are often caused by infection or some sort of irreparable damage to the tooth or gums. Losing a tooth could possibly be an unavoidable result of an auto accident, for example. As people grow older, tooth enamel weakens and teeth have a tendency to become more brittle. Cracks and breakages are not unusual as mid to old age approaches. Whether or not these teeth are salvageable or must be pulled should be determined by your family dentist as quickly as possible after the damage occurs.
Infections
It may well come as a surprise to most people to learn that sometimes infections of the gums or teeth can go undetected for an extended time as early stages may not cause any pain. However, if not dealt with, both gum and tooth infections, especially if associated with periodontal disease, can ultimately result in loss of gum tissue and of the jaw bone. In fact, this is the number one cause of jaw bone loss. As the periodontal disease progresses and the bone erodes, it creates pockets around the teeth which are great breeding grounds for bacterial infection and plaque buildup. The plaque in turn erodes away the anchoring holding the teeth in place, which can ultimately result in the loss of one or more teeth.
However, of even more concern is that the disease can spread to other parts of the body. There is strong evidence to indicate that there is a relationship between infections in the teeth and gums and plaque accumulation in the arteries. The ultimate result can be unexpected onset of heart disease. The best way to avoid this avalanche of potential problems is to have frequent dental checkups so your dentist can properly assess the health of your gums and teeth.
Abscesses
For those who tend to avoid dental visits like the plague, plaque build-up, minor infections or even tooth decay can lead to an abscess either in the tooth or adjoining gum tissue, or both. Unlike minor infections, abscesses are very painful. They can also be caused by chewing on hard foods (nuts, candy and beef jerky are common culprits) which results in fractures, damage due to an accident, fight or some other sudden impact. It is critical that abscesses be handled right away to prevent the infection from spreading. Once it has been treated, cosmetic dentistry (often done by your regular dentist) may be utilized to restore the appearance of the damaged tooth, and save your smile. Minor cosmetic dental procedures include capping the damaged tooth, while dental implants may be necessary to replace a lost tooth that couldn't be saved.
Your Tooth Has Been Knocked Out
On rare occasions some event may cause you to lose a tooth altogether; for instance during some type of accident or fall. If you can retrieve the tooth and get to a dentist rapidly, it is possible that it can be re-implanted into the gum and saved. If done in time, the alveolar bone reforms around the implant, and your smile can be saved without further intervention.
To Pull or To Save - The Dentist's Decision In times past, dentists used to pull teeth that were infected or otherwise damaged. While they were not as well informed about the implications of spreading infection to other parts of the body, the policy of taking out the tooth was supposed to rid the body of the problem.
Dentists these days are more prone to finding a way to save your teeth. Broken or cracked teeth are routinely capped to keep infection out, root canals are performed on infected teeth, implants are used to fill spaces that lost teeth once occupied, and so on. The goal is to maintain the integrity of a healthy mouth and keep the patient happy and returning for regular dental visits. The ideal policy is to avoid infections if possible, or catch them very early so they are treatable with a dose of antibiotics. Routine, twice annual dental exams will surely help to accomplish this goal.
----------------------------------------------------
West Hills Dental Center at http://www.sedationdentistryportland.net is highly recommended by author Stephen Daniels. This Family Dental Office can help with regular routine dental procedures and most cosmetic dental procedures, and offers sedation dentistry for those patients who request it. Specializing in conscious sedation, their experienced dentists offer anxiety-free treatments, including professional teeth whitening, for the whole
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=194970
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire