Losing A Tooth From Child to Elder
When your child is in elementary school, losing a tooth is an exciting rite of passage, often complete with a little box to keep it safe, and a visit from the tooth fairy. As we age, however, losing a tooth can be a more serious matter. It may a planned extraction as part of an orthodontic plan, or it may happen as a result other causes. Ideally, you would keep all of your permanent teeth throughout your life, but your Cleveland, TX dentist has solutions for lost teeth in adulthood.
Childhood Tooth Loss is Expected
Your child should visit a dentist once when the first teeth being to erupt, and then start a pattern of regular visits by about age 3. Even though baby teeth will fall out, it is important to keep an eye on your child’s oral structures, and prevent tooth loss from cavities when possible. We may recommend dental products and procedures that are especially helpful for children, such as fluoride treatments and dental sealants, to give young teeth every chance at remaining healthy until the time comes for them to naturally fall out.
Teens and Tooth Loss
Teenage tooth loss is fairly rare, but can come about as a result of trauma or accident. Encourage your teen to wear a mouthguard anytime there is a chance of facial contact. This includes obvious things like soccer, basketball and football, but might also include mountain biking, skateboards or parkour. Between about 16 and 21 is also when wisdom teeth tend to erupt. When wisdom teeth are impacted, or there is not space for them, your dentist may recommend a planned wisdom tooth extraction to remedy the situation
Adults and Elders May Benefit from Implant Restorations
The leading cause of tooth loss in adults is gum disease and periodontitis. Many people can avoid losing teeth by careful brushing and lifelong attendance at regular exams. However, if a tooth needs extraction, or is lost due to injury or disease, a dental implant is often the best way to replace it. Not only does an implant prevent neighboring teeth from shifting, the implant post transmits sensations to the jawbone, so that it continues to receive nourishment from the body.
Tooth Loss Can Happen at Any Age
If you have questions about tooth loss and what to expect for your children, yourself or a parent or loved one, a family dentist has answers. Call our Cleveland Family Dentistry office in Cleveland, TX, today at (281) 592-1234. We proudly serve patients and their families from Cleveland and all surrounding communities.