Tooth loss is an unfortunate event that neither dentists nor patients want.
No matter how advanced the methods of preserving teeth in the arch, and no matter how many materials and solutions there are to replace lost teeth, there is nothing that can fully restore the appearance and function of natural teeth.
The best still remains the natural tooth, which is why great efforts are made to try to keep them on the arches as long as possible.
Teeth can be lost in the process for a variety of reasons.
Whether it is due to accidents, advancing age or pathologies that speed up resorption processes, the way teeth are lost is closely linked to the age of the patient.
Thus, we have the following situations in the young patient:
Trauma – children, especially at a young age, are very energetic but also careless.
That is why it is not uncommon that tooth loss may occur due to play accidents.
In almost all cases the teeth concerned are the front teeth, because they are the most exposed due to their position on the arches.
If a piece of a tooth has broken off, the parent should bring the child to the dentist as a matter of urgency, so that the dentist can collect the broken portion and follow the healing.
Depending on the severity of the trauma, it is decided to keep the tooth, root canal treatment or even extraction if there is a longitudinal fracture at the root.
Extensive tumor or inflammatory processes – young bone is spongier so pathological processes can more easily invade the hard supporting tissues.
Thus, teeth that are trapped in such processes will show increased mobility, which may disappear once the problem is resolved.
In certain situations, if teeth are found to be maintaining pathological processes and hindering healing, they present an indication for extraction.
If among children, tooth loss modalities are most commonly associated with play accidents, in adults’ things are different.
Among the most frequent causes of tooth loss in adults are:
Periodontal disease –as we get older, the quality and quantity of bone in which teeth are anchored decreases.
Thus, the supporting tissues represented by the ligaments migrate towards the root tip and the quality of the tooth implant decreases.
Periodontal disease is initiated and aggravated by gingivitis, which is caused by the accumulation of dental plaque in the absence of proper hygiene.
Evolution of dental caries– caries occurs due to bacterial penetration followed by demineralization of the hard tissues due to the increased bacterial gradient, especially if the caries is interdental, the adjacent gingiva will suffer and become inflamed. If caries is not treated, the soft tissues will be further damaged and migrate towards the root, leaving the tooth gradually more and more exposed.
Tumor processes– as with children, tumor and inflammatory processes can affect tooth implantation.
Incorrectly performed treatments– if teeth are overloaded following dental treatments, especially prosthetic treatments, they will become mobile over time.
