Options in Replacing Missing Teeth

Having missing teeth is not an ideal condition. Not only it’s bad for your health, but can also compromise your self-esteem and make you avoid smiling. The good news is that there are a few options for tooth replacement which are explained below. Discussing those with your dentist might help you find the best solution for you.

Dental implants can be seen as the best and most comfortable tooth replacement option. They are also the most expensive treatment. An implant is an artificial titanium root that is anchored to the jaw bone. A crown must be later placed for the implant to be complete. This replacement solution feels very natural and does not require other teeth for support.

A fixed bridge can be considered as a series of three or more crowns combined together, where the one in the middle replaces the missing tooth. The crowns on the edge cover your own teeth which are used as anchors. A bridge is fixed on the side teeth and cannot be removed, making it very aesthetic because it looks like your real teeth.

Partial and complete dentures are removable and not fixed like implants and bridges. They can replace several (partial) or all (complete) missing teeth. Because they are removable, they are not as stable, making them less comfortable, and do not help you chew foods as effectively as effectively as implants and bridges. But depending where your missing teeth are, dentures can give you a complete and beautiful smile. Partials also prevent your other teeth from moving.

Complete article: Causes and Consequences of Tooth Loss

Dr Caroline Trinh

By finishing top of her class at university, and by pursuing her studies in orthodontics, periodontics and jaw science, Dr Caroline is not only a great dentist, but also a wonderful friend.

I got to know Caroline very well because we often had jointed clinical segments during our studies. We also did our dental thesis together which topic was radiology. During that time it was noticeable how she was a bright student and very committed to learning in order to later become a great dentist. After graduating, we continued pursuing our dental learning by taking continuing education courses on dental implants, prosthodontics and many other dental subjects.

Caroline had the reputation of being a “dental encyclopaedia” at school. She truly knows it all! Her expertise and attentive care will help her patients throughout her career and she is very appreciated for that. She currently practices at Centre Dentaire de l’Ouest with her sister Nathalie.

In French: Dr Caroline Trinh

What are the Consequences of Losing your Teeth?

People can lose their teeth for many reasons. But the long term consequences can be very bad for your health and for your overall well-being. Knowing those consequences might help you realize how important it is to take care of your teeth in order to keep them healthy and not to eventually have to extract them.

Here’s a list of tooth loss consequences:

• You might develop speech problems as it might be hard to pronounce some letters if you are missing too many teeth.
• Avoiding certain foods because having less teeth might produce chewing problems.
• Avoiding going out in public because if your missing teeth are showing, you might be embarrassed to show your smile.
• Because of the way your smile looks, you might develop anxiety and self-consciousness.
• Stiff jaws because with fewer teeth it’s harder to chew on foods and there is more stress expressed in your jaws.
• Other teeth might become weak because there are fewer teeth to use when you eat.
• Other teeth might move, or incline because there is nothing to stop them. This condition might induce periodontal disease and possible tooth loss.
• You might develop nutrition problems because you cannot eat all types of foods.

Full article: Causes and Consequences of Tooth Loss
In French: Quelles sont les conséquences de la perte des dents?

What Reasons Might Cause People to Lose Their Teeth?

Tooth Loss

Tooth loss is an unhealthy situation and many people believe it is something inevitable when you grow old. The fact is you don’t need to lose your teeth if you take care of them all your life. They will help you savour foods and nourish yourself in order to maintain you healthy for a long time.

By understanding the reasons why people might lose their teeth, it is possible to give a smart attention to your overall oral health in order to keep your teeth healthy all your life. Here are the causes of tooth loss:

• Poor oral hygiene increases the chances of you getting tooth decay and gum disease. Dentists advise to brush your teeth after each meal, or at least twice a day, and to floss at least once a day. It is also recommended to visit your dentist every six months for a check-ups and cleanings.
• Poor nutrition can ruin your teeth. Foods that contain a lot of sugar and acids can damage your teeth and gums. Such diets initiate cavities.
• Poor habits such as tooth grinding (bruxism) uses up your teeth over the years and make them shorter. People who grind intensely can also fracture their teeth. Smoking can make gum disease worse, which leads to tooth loss.
• If your kids play contact sports such as football, hockey, basketball and martial, they should wear a mouth guard to prevent trauma that can fracture of injure a tooth.
• Some people have an intense fear of dentists and never visit one, even if they are suffering from severe tooth ache. Not seeing a dentist for a problem in your mouth can worsen the condition over time and eventually lead to tooth loss.
• Some people cannot afford dental treatments. But it’s not everything done by dentists that’s overly expensive. Sometimes you can alternative treatments that are less costly. Remember also that preventing problems costs less than repairing problems.

Full article: Causes and Consequences of Tooth Loss
In French: Pour quelles raisons les gens peuvent-ils perdre leurs dents?