Four Top Causes of Missing Teeth By Dr. Nathaniel Podilsky on March 22, 2016

Missing teeth are, along with periodontal disease, the greatest threat to your oral health that can occur in your mouth. If you are missing one or more of your natural teeth, it is essential that you seek treatment right away. At the cosmetic, implant, and family dentistry practice of Dr. Nathaniel Podilsky, we offer a comprehensive range of treatments for missing teeth, including dental implants. Ultimately, although implant-supported restorations represent the best available method of replacing missing teeth, any method is vastly preferable to leaving missing teeth untreated.

This is because missing teeth create more than just a cosmetic concern. When you lose a tooth, your body interprets this loss as a signal that the hard and soft tissues that once supported the tooth - the jaw bone and periodontal tissues - are no longer performing any essential function and are therefore no longer in need of vital resources. As a result, they fall into disrepair and begin to degrade. At the same time, the teeth adjacent to the gap once occupied by the missing tooth start to drift toward the gap, affecting the alignment of the teeth and the integrity of the bite.

We invite you to read the following blog post about possible causes of missing teeth by our Edmonton, Alberta team of dental experts and then schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Podilsky to determine the most effective treatment option for missing teeth in your particular case.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Missing Teeth?

There are many possible causes of missing teeth; however, the most common include:

Root canal infections: Each tooth in your mouth contains between one and four structures called root canals. These root canals house a substance called dental pulp, comprising nutrients, blood vessels, and nerves. When the pulp within a root canal becomes inflamed or infected, it must be removed; otherwise, the tooth will eventually die and rot away. The failure to seek treatment for root canal infections is a common cause of missing teeth among adults.
Periodontal disease: Periodontal, or gum disease is the most common disease among Canadian adults, affecting roughly 75 percent of the population. In its most advanced stage, periodontitis, the gums actually pull away from the teeth, causing them to become loose. If left untreated, gum disease can cause the teeth to fall out.
Extensive decay or other damage: When a tooth suffers from decay or some other form of damage, Dr. Podilsky will attempt to salvage it whenever possible. However, there may be cases in which it is best to extract the tooth. Dr. Podilsky will never extract a tooth without providing a patient with a post-extraction plan to replace the tooth; however, many patients are missing teeth from extractions that were performed without such plans in place.
Injury: Many people are missing teeth due to injury.