Dental implants are a highly advanced dental solution for missing teeth. Each dental implant is a bio-grade metal post which is surgically implanted in place of the previous tooth.
Once the implant has fully healed into the jawbone, the implant is fitted with a dental crown, which is a replacement tooth that is fastened over the implant. The crown is essentially a prosthetic tooth.
One of the main reasons why patients need to have dental implants is because they have followed insufficient oral hygiene in the past. Let’s talk about why oral hygiene is so important, why gum disease and tooth deterioration can develop, and where you can go here in Eugene for optimum dental care for yourself and your whole family.
Oral Hygiene for Keeping Teeth Healthy
Starting at a very young age, children should be taught proper brushing technique and how it should be done multiple times per day. They should also be educated on how eating too much sugar can negatively impact the integrity of the teeth, and that that’s how people eventually can lose their teeth and require dental implants. Teach them how sugar that is left on the teeth should be brushed or rinsed away.
How Gum Disease Develops
A leading cause of lost teeth is gum disease, or periodontitis. Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue caused by untreated cavities or tooth decay, and it can develop after years of neglect and not seeing your dentist on a regular basis for prevention.
After all, each time you see your dentist for a regular checkup, you receive a professional dental cleaning whereby plaque and tartar are removed. This helps to prevent gum disease and tooth decay from developing.
Soft, sticky plaque buildup can become hardened tartar, and both of these can lead to cavities. The bacteria in plaque will convert sugar – which is left behind in your teeth from food particles – into acid, which can weaken and erode the tooth enamel. This is why it is so important to brush away food particles from your teeth.
If a cavity develops in a tooth, it reaches the dentin, which is the soft inner material of the tooth. The spread of decay can then be very rapid. The plaque can cause an infection in the gum tissue as well.
Early-stage gum disease is called gingivitis, and at this point, it is still treatable. As the plaque and tartar continue to do their work, pockets form between the teeth and the gum tissue. Gum disease eventually leads to tissue and bone loss, which leads to tooth loss.
Dental Implant Surgeon in Eugene, OR
Fortunately, cavities can be treated, and gum disease is preventable. With good oral hygiene, regular visits to the dentist, and good nutrition, gum disease and tooth decay can be prevented. However, if necessary, a missing tooth can be replaced by a dental implant.
Dr. Ari Binder here at 360 Dental can help you to restore your teeth and gums to be beautiful and healthy again. Dr. Binder can address your dental issues through preventive measures, and he can provide extensive treatment such as dental implants as necessary.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Binder, call 360 Dental today at (541) 689-1645 or fill out our easy-to-use appointment request form online now. We look forward to being your dental partner!