It's important to know that most teeth are lost due to gum disease – not trauma or decay. This condition will often have no symptoms until the problem is severe. Early signs of infection include bleeding gums from flossing or brushing and loose teeth. If treated in the early stages, nonsurgical methods will halt the problem; otherwise, surgery may be the only option if you wait too long for treatment. Both types of treatment are generally covered by most insurance plans.
The latest medical research has identified
chronic gum disease as a contributor to serious health problems like heart
disease, stroke, and diabetes. As the American Dental Association has released
statistics that 80% of Americans have some stage of periodontitis (gum
inflammation due to infection) dentists are now considering gum disease to be an
epidemic. You have more to risk than losing your teeth if gum disease is not
treated in the earliest stages.
The American Academy of Periodontology
reports, "studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development
of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a
serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and
respiratory diseases." As the bacteria in the gums travel throughout the
bloodstream, it has a detrimental effect on vital organs.
Having missing teeth can cause other
problems that you may not be aware of. Even one absent tooth can cause other
teeth to become loose or shift from their original positions. The more teeth
that are missing, the fewer nutrients you will receive from the food you eat. If
the location of missing teeth makes eating healthier foods difficult, people
often favor softer, high-calorie foods that result in weight gain. Eventually,
your facial appearance takes on a sunken look without the support of all your
teeth and the bone loss that accompanies missing teeth. This will make you look
older than your years.
Dental implants are the best answer for
replacement of lost teeth. They can replace as many teeth as you have missing
and look very natural. They function like your own teeth, so you will be able to
eat every kind of food once again, and your smile will be full and beautiful.
Our doctors can halt gum
disease using a very effective product called ARESTIN™. This powder contains
antibiotic microspheres that are time released at the very site of the
infection. It is applied to the pockets between teeth and gums. It has proven to
be very effective in the fight against periodontal (gum) disease and best of
all, it does its work without causing you any pain!
We can help arrest your gum disease and bring your smile back to health. Give us a call today at (575) 522-1983.
Bridget Burris, DDS
1748 South Triviz Drive,
Las Cruces, NM 88001
(575) 522-1983
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