There’s just something off about your smile.
You’ve seen it every morning in the mirror. You’ve seen how other people react (or try hard to pretend not to react) when you open your mouth to speak.
It’s the elephant in the room. Everyone knows it’s there … or rather not there.
Your missing teeth are a distraction for many of the people you deal with at work and in social situations.
If you’ve grown tired of the stares and the occasional questions, it’s time to call someone for help. If you live in or near Buffalo Grove, IL, that someone is our oral surgeon, Dr. Frank, at North Shore Smile Surgery.
Teeth replacement is one of our featured services. We can help you get your smile back so you and the people you deal with day-to-day can feel a little more comfortable.
Common Causes Of Missing Teeth
If you can relate to the scenario above, we will discuss the solutions in a moment. First, we want to address the most common reasons people lose teeth.
Our hope is that if you still have all your teeth, this will serve as a reminder of what you should do to keep them.
◼︎ Gum Disease
Many people do not realize it but gum disease causes more tooth loss among Americans than any other cause. Unfortunately, far too many people have gum disease in the United States.
In order for this to cause tooth loss, it needs to reach the more advanced stages when gum recession can occur and the bacteria may damage the bone that is holding your teeth place.
If you see the warning signs of gums disease — bleeding gums, swollen and red gums — act early to prevent if from reaching this stage. Better yet, remember to brush and floss every day to remove bacteria that cause periodontal disease.
◼︎ Tooth Decay
This may go without saying, but we are going to say it anyway. If you have a cavity, do something about it. Get the decay removed and get the tooth filled before it gets too deep into your tooth.
Once again, brushing and flossing are a key component to preventing this problem.
◼︎ Trauma
Most of us know someone who has suffered a dental or facial injury during their lives. Sometimes this causes a swollen lip. Sometimes this causes a chipped tooth, and sometimes this causes a tooth or teeth to fall out.
Wearing an athletic mouthguard (preferably a custom-fitted one) while participating in high-impact activities can greatly reduce your risk of this kind of injury.
◼︎ Tooth Grinding
This is also known as bruxism. It may be something you are doing unknowingly. You may even do this in your sleep.
If you allow this to continue, you may wear down the protective enamel on your teeth, which can expose the more vulnerable parts of your teeth to infection.
Symptoms of this problem include frequent headaches, earaches, and jaw, face, and neck pain. Talking to a dentist could help you find treatments to resolve this problem.
◼︎ Skipping Routine Cleanings
If you skip routine cleanings and examinations, problems may persist for longer than they should.
◼︎ Smoking and Alcohol Use
Smoking and alcohol use can affect the health of your mouth. They also can cause dry mouth, which increases your risk for gum disease and tooth decay.
How To Replace Lost Teeth
We have replaced thousands of teeth at North Shore Smile Surgery for patients throughout the Chicago area.
And today’s replacement teeth are stronger than they have ever been thanks to the development of dental implants. Thanks to implants (and in some cases mini implants), we have true replacement teeth.
Dental implants are placed into the jawbone, just as your roots once were. Like your roots, they serve as anchors that hold the replacements for the natural crowns of your missing teeth.
A dental crown can be placed on an implant for a patient in need of a single-tooth replacement.
A dental bridge can be attached to one or more implants, depending on the location of the missing teeth and the number of teeth that need replacing.
Dentures can be secured by a series of implants to replace an entire row of teeth.
The team at our Buffalo Grove oral surgeon's office will be ready to help whether you are missing teeth today and want them replaced as soon as possible or you lose a tooth in the future.
With dental implants, we can give you something very close to true teeth replacement.
All you have to do is fill out this form to make your appointment!
