Nashville Tooth Loss and Replacement

Tooth loss can have a major impact on your emotional and physical health. Following losing a tooth, your face may become sallow and the lines around your mouth may deepen. It is common for people to develop self-image problems and as a result of this, limit or avoid social contact.

Nutrition / Physical Health

Tooth loss can also have a profound effect on physical health. You may experience difficulty chewing your food, which can lead to you swallowing more air than usual. This can cause a distended stomach, as well as discomfort and indigestion. Due to difficulty chewing, people sometimes limit their consumption of tough meat and chewy fruits and vegetables and instead turn towards softer foods that are not so nutritious.

Communication

Your teeth play an important role in influencing your speech patterns. The pronunciation of certain letters require lips, teeth and tongue to make contact with each other. Missing teeth can therefore have an impact on your speech, making it more difficult for you to communicate clearly.

Reasons for Tooth Loss

Tooth loss can occur for many reasons. Gum (periodontal) disease is a leading cause of tooth loss and it is characterized by inflammation or infection of your gums. When gum disease is left untreated, it can cause the degradation of the bone tissue that supports your teeth. This can lead to your teeth becoming loose and eventually falling out. Dental caries, an irreversible bacterial disease, can also cause your teeth to fall out, as can physical trauma.

Gum disease and dental caries occurs as a result of inadequate oral hygiene and can therefore be prevented by frequent brushing and flossing. Regular visits to our dental clinic are also essential in your quest to maintain the health of your teeth. If we are able to identify oral health problems in their initial stages, we can often prevent your teeth from falling out. If you are at risk of developing oral health problems, we may prescribe fluoride therapy, which can prevent dental caries. We may also recommend dental sealants, which are applied to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth and serve as a physical barrier against harmful bacteria and the health conditions that they can cause.

Tooth Replacement Options

If you have already lost a tooth, a range of treatment options are available to you. Dental implants are commonly used to replace missing teeth. They comprise an artificial root, on top of which a dental prosthesis, such as a crown, can be positioned. Dental bridges, or fixed partial dentures, can also be used for this same reason.

If you wish to learn more about the ways in which a cosmetic dentist can replace your missing teeth, contact Dr. Poss today at 615-373-1056

Refer a new patient for cleaning & exam we’ll give you both a $25 gift card!

Have your friends and family call the office at
615-373-1056 to schedule an appointment for their cleaning and exam. Have them let our scheduler know that you referred them and we’ll a gift card  in the mail once they’ve visited our office for a paid appointment.**

**Must be a first paid appointment for qualified referral. Gift card will be sent after the new patient has had their appointment. New patient must let us know who referred them.

Consider this blog your news resource for information about oral health, dental procedures and technology, and what’s happening at your dentist’s office. We believe communication is key to building great doctor-patient relationships, and this dental blog is intended to keep us in touch with you. The best part is, you can simply bookmark this page in your browser, then visit whenever you like! Stay tuned for regular posts that will keep you informed.

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