Nobody can predict the future, and since tooth loss can be unpredictable, it’s easy to take a not-very-concerned stance towards it. However, while tooth loss may or may not occur, you don’t have to leave your smile’s future up to fate. If you pay close attention to your oral health and take warning signs seriously, you can predict your likelihood of experiencing tooth loss and take steps to help avoid. If it’s too late to avoid it, then we can plan your treatment accordingly to deal with the underlying problem and plan your tooth replacement as soon as possible.
The toothache you’ve been ignoring
There are some toothaches you simply can’t ignore because they cause such intense discomfort that they block everything else out. And then there are toothaches that don’t really seem like aches, but more like slight sensitivity, and are much easier to ignore so you can go about your day. These minor cases of tooth sensitivity are often how more intense cases of tooth pain begin. When you ignore it, you also ignore the reason behind it, which could also be a common cause of tooth loss (such as a tooth infection, or an exposed tooth root due to gum disease).
The gum disease you think is minor
When you notice things like your gums appearing more red than usual and perhaps a little shiny, or they bleed slightly when you brush and floss your teeth, you might not immediately consider it an emergency. Most of these early symptoms of gum disease don’t cause your gums to hurt, so they can seem less serious than they actually are. However, gum disease is the number one cause of adult tooth loss, and its symptoms can grow exponentially worse the longer you wait to treat the disease. That includes your risks of tooth loss, or the need to extract one or more teeth due to a lack of adequate support.
The impacted molar you’re waiting to remove
Impacted wisdom teeth are a problem unto themselves, and fortunately, extracting them doesn’t negatively impact your oral health or bite function. Yet, if they’re already become significantly impacted while you’ve waited to remove them, the collateral damage they’ve caused to your jawbone structure and/or nearby teeth can significantly raise your risks of losing teeth besides your third molars. If you notice any sensitivity at the back of your dental ridges, it’s important to schedule an examination to determine if your wisdom teeth are starting to cause trouble.
Learn about tooth loss and dental implants
Learn how to gauge your likelihood of experiencing tooth loss, or needing to have a tooth extracted because it can’t be saved. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Santa Rosa Oral Surgery in Santa Rosa, CA, today at 707-545-4625.