What is edentulism?
Our teeth are submitted to all kind of stresses and problems every day, and that partially comes as a result of the numerous changes in our life. We are not eating or drinking the right things, and we are not brushing and flossing our teeth as we should, or as our doctor recommends.
Consequently, many conditions can affect our teeth and gums (such as decays, ginigivitis or periodontal disease), which can eventually lead to tooth loss (especially if the conditions are not treated in time).
Edentulism is the medical condition characterized by the absence of one or more teeth. The clinical classification of edentulism gives us important details about the disposition and length of all toothless gaps in a particular clinical case. A toothless gap is the breach formed on the dental arch after a tooth is lost.
Several factors can cause teeth loss, such as dental decay, periodontal disease or tooth injury. For example, eating peanuts, or nuts, or trying to open bottles with your teeth can affect the stability of teeth and sometimes these can even lead to tooth loss.
Some general conditions can also affect oral health and it is advisable to treat these conditions as soon as they are noticed. As mentioned, poor oral hygiene habits are one of the most important factors that can lead to both tooth decay and periodontal disease (which are responsible for more than 90% of teeth loss).
Edentulism can be either partial, or complete. Complete edentulism means that all teeth from a dental arch are missing. In case of partial edentulism, one or more teeth are missing but never all. Over the years, a large variety of classifications has been proposed for partial edentulism.
It is important to determine how many teeth are missing and which teeth are missing (front teeth, back teeth). These classifications are important for the dentist in establishing what type of prosthesis can be indicated for a particular clinical case.
For example, in some cases, a traditional dental bridge can be used to restore a toothless gap. If more teeth are missing, you may need a removable denture or an implant supported restoration.
A dental practitioner can really help you in these cases. If you have missing teeth, it is not a good idea to try to solve the problem alone or do nothing. It is vital to talk to a specialist who can point you in the right direction.
Several treatment options may be available, starting from a dental bridge or an implant supported crown (when a single tooth is missing) or a larger restoration such as a removable denture or various types of prosthesis supported by dental implants if more teeth are missing.
A proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits are the first steps to prevent tooth loss. You must realise that dental procedures can cost some money. Are you ready to give them just like that? It is always better to prevent than treat !
