In our previous blog, we discussed why it is important to act on a dental need sooner rather than later, especially when it comes to decay. Indeed, decay is one of the most common oral health concerns out there, affecting millions of individuals every year. If left untreated, it will continue to become worse and worse until finally, you experience losing a tooth – or several in some cases. In today’s blog, your Auburn Hills, MI dentist is going to take a look at the effects of the progression of decay, including treatments we can provide to address different degrees of tooth loss.
A Few Adjacent Teeth
Decay is the name given to the process of oral bacteria harming your oral structures through incessant breakdown and deterioration. It begins when these bacteria nestle in the warm, moist, and hard-to-clean areas of the mouth to make their home. Here, they will remain and thrive unless otherwise removed. They feed off of the food particles and sugars you consume, causing them to secrete harmful acids that expedite the process of breaking down your teeth.
Dental decay often begins as a cavity, which is a hole in a tooth. If left untreated, this hole will continue to become larger and larger, spreading internally toward the inner dental pulp and nerves contained in the roots. At this stage, a procedure such as a root canal can be beneficial in salvaging your natural structure. Once it spreads past a certain extent, however, the only logical step to address it will consist of extraction. Bear in mind, however, that once a tooth is removed, it must be replaced in order to avoid other major complications, including increased risk of losing teeth.
Multiple Structures
It is true that once you lose a structure, your chances of losing more increase dramatically. During this stage and depending on the severity of loss, you make seek a restorative prosthetic procedure such as a dental implant, porcelain bridge, or even partial dentures. Indeed, at many stages throughout the progression of decay our team can step in, but keep in mind that it is always more beneficial to act sooner rather than later, especially when it comes to your smile.
Complete Tooth Loss
It is not uncommon that people are unable to seek treatment until it is already too late, resulting in the complete loss of all oral structures. At this stage, our team can assist with providing a custom set of dentures that can either be secured with adhesive paste, or implant-retained. For more information about your prosthetic options and the customization that is involved, reach out to our team.
Schedule Your Visit
Contact Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI by calling 248-852-1820 to learn how decay can progress and how we can address it at any stage.
