Historically, missing teeth have often been a marker of aging or hardship. Before the advent of modern dentistry, those who lost teeth struggled to maintain a diverse diet, leading to poor nutrition and, in some cases, premature death. Today, while our understanding of dentistry and diet needs has advanced, missing teeth still contribute to poor nutrition for many individuals. Fortunately, modern dental technology offers solutions. At St. Apollonia Dental, we provide advanced tooth replacement options that restore your oral health and improve your nutrition.
Causes of Tooth Loss
Oral health is often seen as separate from overall health, but it actually plays a very important role. One of the most significant markers of poor oral health is missing teeth. Missing teeth don’t just impact your smile—they also affect your ability to chew certain foods.
Tooth loss most commonly occurs due to advanced periodontal disease or decay. Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that starts at your gumline and slowly migrates deeper, creating pockets of bacteria. Eventually, it will damage the tooth roots and bone beneath your gums. Left untreated, the bacteria and the body’s immune response break down these support structures until the tooth loosens and ultimately falls out.
Another frequent cause of tooth loss is decay. It occurs when plaque builds up on your teeth. Bacteria in plaque produce acid that breaks down your protective enamel, causing cavities. While cavities can be treated with fillings and crowns, if left untreated, the damage worsens, and the bacteria move deeper. Sometimes, a root canal can treat infection inside the tooth. If not, we may need to extract it.
Missing Teeth, Nutrition, and Overall Health
Missing teeth can significantly change your diet, as you may have to limit yourself to foods that are easier to chew. Nutrient-rich foods like vegetables and high-protein meats can be challenging to eat. Your nutrition suffers when you can no longer eat these foods, whether from pain or reduced chewing ability.
Moreover, poor nutrition can impact oral health and even contribute to tooth loss. Insufficient nutritional intake worsens oral health in many ways. If you avoid foods high in nutritional value and opt for sugary foods instead, you may increase your chances of developing tooth decay or infection. That’s because bacteria in plaque thrive on the sugars from the food you eat, producing acids that erode your enamel.
Nutrient-rich foods also contain vital nutrients that strengthen your bones and gums, like calcium and vitamin C. Without these nutrients, your teeth may become more vulnerable to decay and your gums to infection. Additionally, nutrients boost the immune system. Without them, your body may struggle to fight off infections.
Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet is essential for overall health—and it directly affects your oral health, too. Poor nutrition and missing teeth can reinforce each other, creating a cycle that diminishes your quality of life. St. Apollonia Dental offers tooth replacement options to break this cycle and promote better health!
How We Can Replace Your Missing Teeth
We offer many solutions to tooth loss. One of the most classic solutions is a full or partial denture, depending on your needs. However, at St. Apollonia Dental, we understand that traditional dentures have some major drawbacks. Dentures are notoriously unstable, as they can slip out when talking or eating. Many people struggle to eat with dentures, as they loosen and become uncomfortable on the gums, causing irritation or sores. To combat these common issues, we use dental implants!
Dental implants are titanium posts we place through the gums and into the jaw. We use these implants to secure crowns, bridges, or dentures, providing the stability that traditional restorations may lack. At our practice, we may use traditional dental implants or mini dental implants, depending on your unique needs.
Traditional dental implants are about 5 millimeters in diameter. These strong titanium implants come in 3 separate parts: the post, abutment, and screw. To place them, we make an incision into the gums to reveal the bone underneath, then drill a hole in your jawbone to fit the implant. The process can take about 4-6 months to complete and is more expensive due to the multiple components and appointments required.
Mini implants, however, are less than 3 millimeters in diameter. While these amazing minis are just as strong, they require less bone than traditional implants and use a single-piece design. Due to their minimally invasive nature, mini implants facilitate quicker results. And because of their slim design, they don’t require incisions or stitches, which greatly reduces the healing period. In addition to these amazing benefits, mini implants are also a cost-effective alternative to traditional implants.
Replace Your Missing Teeth Now To Improve Your Health!
Advancements in modern dentistry help prevent tooth loss from affecting overall health and nutrition. If you’re missing teeth, replacing them as soon as possible is important so you can get back to smiling confidently and enjoying the foods you love.
Don’t let poor oral health stand in the way of your general well-being. Schedule a free consultation today at St. Apollonia Dental to learn how our innovative dental implant technology can restore your smile!
