Ideally, tooth loss should only happen once in life—when you’re baby teeth fall out to make room for their permanent replacements. The reality, however, is that a large majority of adults will lose at least one permanent tooth in their adulthood, and unfortunately, it will not grow back. The fact that they are often referred to as “permanent” may seem confusing given how frequently they are lost. Yet, the truth is that your adult teeth should last for life, or be replaced as soon as possible if they don’t.
The Loss of Adult Teeth
Altogether, a typical adult mouth with grow 32 teeth, including the last four molars that are known as wisdom teeth. These molars, which can sometimes cause problems with spacing and crowding as they erupt, are the most commonly extracted teeth, and are the only teeth whose loss doesn’t negatively affect your oral health.
When any of your remaining 28 teeth are lost, it can be due to any of a number of reasons, including;
- Accidental injury/trauma
- Advanced gum disease (the leading cause of tooth loss)
- Extraction due to damage/infection so severe that it cannot be restored
How to Permanently Replace Lost Teeth
When you’ve lost one or more teeth, the best way to preserve the rest of them is to restore the loss with an appropriate dental prosthesis. In many cases, we recommend securing that prosthesis (i.e., dental crown, partial, or complete denture) on one or more dental implants. The prosthetic teeth roots, which are inserted into the jawbone, act as anchors that permanently secure your replacement teeth to your dental ridge. By restoring the lost roots, and the stimulation they provide when you bite and chew, dental implants help reestablish all of the vital functions of your missing teeth.
ABOUT YOUR CERRITOS ORAL SURGEON:
Dr. Shawn Hofkes and the staff at Cerritos Dental Surgery are highly qualified to address complex issues, including those that require oral surgery to correct. To schedule an appointment or consultation with Dr. Hofkes, contact us today by calling 562-584-4082. We proudly serve patients of all ages from Cerritos, Lakewood, Long Beach, Buena Park, and all surrounding communities.
