How Does Gum Health Cause Tooth Loss?

A number of factors could mean the loss of your natural teeth, from injury to decay and infection. However, the most common cause is the advanced stage of periodontal disease known as periodontitis. In today’s blog, your Livonia, MI, dentist will explain the link between gum health and tooth loss, and how we prepare your smile for implant placement.

Periodontitis

Have you ever heard of periodontitis? Simply put, this is the advanced stage of periodontal disease, what happens when the disease isn’t managed with regular cleanings and other treatments. This stage of the disease actually attacks and severs the tissues that connect the teeth and gums. Teeth then become loose and eventually, fall out. This is the number one cause of adult tooth loss.

The Loss of Adult Teeth

When you develop periodontitis, this could also complicate replacing your missing teeth with dental implants, as the disease could also destroy the tissues that bond your new implant post to the jawbone. For that reason, you will need to manage the issue to make your smile able to support new teeth. To prevent these complications, please let us know if you experience sore, red, or bleeding gums. Be sure to attend regular checkups and cleanings too. A checkup is a chance to watch for signs of disease so we can create a treatment plan to address them, and a cleaning means removing all plaque and tartar, which helps prevent inflammation and disease from occurring.

Preparing Smiles for Implant Placement

With scaling and root planings, advanced laser dentistry, and other treatment options, we can address gum disease to improve oral health. If you have lost jawbone density due to tooth and disease, we could also rebuild portions of your smile with bone grafting and sinus lifts, or provide options like mini-implants or All-On-Four to support implants even if a patient loses mass and density in the jawbone structure. If you have any questions about tooth loss, or about managing periodontal troubles and protecting your smile, then contact our team today. We could also help if you have lost one or more of your natural teeth. We want to rebuild your smile, and ensure you always feel proud and confident when you smile.

Do You Have Missing Teeth?

We want to help you avoid tooth loss when possible, and find a solution for any gaps in your smile with implant dentistry. Our team can place an individual one, or use several to support a bridge or even a full set of dentures! To learn more about the causes of tooth loss and possible solutions, then call James Stewart, DDS, dental implant office in Livonia, MI, at (734) 425-4400. We also serve the residents of Farmington, Plymouth, Dearborn Heights, and all surrounding communities.