There are a number of different ways to protect your teeth and gums, but no matter how cautious we are, accidents do happen. While losing permanent teeth is often associated with old age, studies have shown that 70% of the population in the United States is missing at least one tooth. Being prepared for a dental emergency in Orillia can be the difference between saving and losing one of your permanent teeth. If the impression that you make on others is important, personally or professionally, taking care of your oral health should be at the top of your priority list. Losing a permanent tooth can bring about changes to the way you eat, speak and smile, which can affect your self-confidence and overall appearance. Beaverton Dental allows new patients the ability to take better care of their oral health by offering their first comprehensive exam and cleaning for free.

Why You Should Save Your Broken, Fractured, Cracked or Missing Teeth

Losing one of your permanent teeth can have physical, psychological, and social consequences that force you to make adjustments to your everyday life. People who lose one of their permanent teeth tend to smile less often and may experience discomfort while biting, chewing or eating. In addition to changing the way that you smile and eat, losing a tooth can also affect the way you speak.  The more teeth that a person loses, the more functionality they lose along with it. Adult tooth loss has also been linked to increasing the risk of stroke, coronary heart disease and cancer. Since about 80% of all dental injuries affect at least one of the front teeth, many people experience a decline in self-confidence and feel shy about smiling or eating in public.

While the cost of an emergency dental treatment can be expensive, the cost of doing nothing can be even more significant. Physically, our teeth are held in position by the jawbone and surrounding teeth. When a tooth is lost or removed, the surrounding teeth shift towards the vacant space, which changes the way you bite and how force is applied to the remaining teeth while you are chewing. The lack of stimulation in that area causes a 25% decrease in the width of the alveolar bone within one year of losing your first adult tooth. Dental surgery that replaces lost teeth with permanent implants can help restore normal aesthetics, function and bite quality, while also reducing long-term bone loss in patients with one or more missing teeth.

Can My Tooth Be Saved?
When a tooth is knocked out, dentists follow a specific procedure to first rule out any neurological and non-dental injuries. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry conducted a decision tree analysis for the management of an avulsed permanent tooth to help dentists and patients achieve the best possible outcome for their given scenario.