Losing teeth as an adult can force you to make difficult adjustments to your day-to-day life. It can change the way you eat, speak, and smile, which can have a negative effect on your self-confidence. While tooth loss in adulthood is generally associated with old age, studies have proved this notion to be a misconception. In fact, over 27% of adults lose their first permanent tooth between the ages of 21 and 30. However, advances in modern dentistry are helping people restore the confidence they have in their smile. Whether you’re missing one or all of your permanent teeth, there are dental surgery options available in Woodville that can help patients smile again and restore their overall quality of life.

Is tooth loss becoming a problem for adults?
A human adult mouth contains 32 teeth. This number decreases to 28 teeth in adults who have had their wisdom teeth removed. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research reports that adults aged 20-34 are missing more than 1 tooth on average.

Recent studies have shown that the prevalence of periodontitis in adults in the United States is a rising concern that could be associated with several other health ailments. Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth. This vicious gum disease remains the most common cause of tooth loss among adults and has also been linked to increasing the risk of stroke, cancer, and coronary heart disease.

What can I do to prevent adult tooth loss?
The American Dental Association set forth some guidelines and recommendations to help people fight gum disease and prevent tooth loss. In most cases, you can help prevent periodontal disease by brushing twice per day and flossing or cleaning between your teeth with another interdental cleaner at least once per day. However, brushing and flossing alone are simply not enough. It is important to visit your dentist for regular cleanings and check-ups to ensure that you are maintaining the best oral care possible.

Even if you brush and floss regularly, you may not remove all of the plaque in your mouth, especially along the gum line. When plaque hardens, it turns into a rough and porous deposit called calculus or tartar, which can only be removed in the dental office during your regular cleaning. It also helps to choose a dentist office with the skills, experience, and reputation for handling all of your oral care needs. Visiting a dentist office that can handle your general oral care, along with cosmetic and dental implant surgeries, provides patients the best chance to meet their long-term oral care goals.