Dental emergencies can occur any time of the day or night: a cracked tooth can occur from biting down on an ice cube or nut, or trauma can result from an accident or injury. In some cases the effected tooth will need to be removed and replaced with dental implants.
The loss of teeth can be traumatic on several levels for anyone, both as a cosmetic issue as well as the risk it poses to the health of the bones in the face and jawline. Many people view tooth loss as merely a cosmetic issue and loathe the stigma associated with missing teeth. The truth is teeth can be lost due to poor oral hygiene, but can also occur because of an inability to afford dental care, the use of drugs, a poor diet, genetics, various diseases, trauma to the face or an injury to the mouth or jaw.
The loss of teeth should not be dismissed or merely accepted as a part of growing older. It is an indicator of something more serious going on in the body and should be addressed by a dentist or oral surgeon immediately. When the root of the tooth is gone, bone degeneration can set in which will progress and eventually lead to deterioration of the jaw bone, leading to facial change and / or structure. This condition can become quite painful, as well as embarrassing for a person.
Some patients will choose to replace the lost teeth with dentures or bridge work, common choices for most people. But neither of these fixes will provide support to the jawbone in the manner that dental implants do. And while the initial cost of a set of dentures or a bridge may be less expensive than dental implants, over the course of several years, these devices will need to be replaced as deterioration settles in and the facial bones shift and break down. With the permanent implants in place, the support is there and these should not require future replacement, unless damaged.
Dentures and bridge work can appear unnatural and create discomfort when inserted, may require additional teeth to be removed in order to achieve a proper fit, as well as produce a clicking sound that causes embarrassment to a patient. These devices need to be cleaned with products specifically made for them and the patient must avoid certain foods that are prone to stain or may cause damage to the denture or bridge. Dental implants are surgically inserted into the jawbone, they are a permanent fix, cleaned like natural teeth and do not create any food restrictions for the patient. Implants maintain the natural shape of the patient's features and most people cannot detect these are not the teeth the person was born with.
Oral health is a vital part of a person's over-all general well-being. The ability to eat, speak, sing, drink and smile is dependent upon a healthy mouth, jaw and teeth. If these breakdown or begin to deteriorate over time, a person's health can quickly become compromised and lead to serious illness, possibly even death. A regular checkup by a dentist is a necessary piece in the program for remaining healthy, strong and vibrant for as long as possible.
