Avoid common winter dental conditions

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Winter is finally here and the temperature is dropping quickly. Prepare yourself this season by knowing the obvious signs of winter-related oral conditions. Avoid common dental issues including tooth decay leading to missing teeth. These issues are known to arise with the cooler weather. 11 million Australian adults suffer from tooth decay each year, with 3 in 10 adults leaving tooth decay untreated. This leads to further problems such as missing teeth.

Missing teeth increases with age. On average, people aged 15-24 years old are missing 2.2 teeth, whereas those 65 years and above are missing 11.9 teeth. With the average being so high, it is important to become more aware of your options to replace missing teeth.

Missing teeth

Missing teeth is a common condition caused by poor oral hygiene, gum disease or tooth decay. Research shows that women on average have a higher amount of missing teeth as opposed to men. As an individual ages, conditions known as ‘edentulism’ increases in prevalence. Edentulism is when a patient suffers total tooth loss. Partial edentulism is more common, where patients have only a few genuine teeth left. These conditions can be avoided with regular brushing and flossing, avoiding high sugar and acidic foods and regular dental checkups. Missing teeth is also a result of certain oral conditions, including tooth decay.

Treatment options for missing teeth

Dental implants are a popular form of treatment in replacing missing teeth. These implants are metal posts or frames that are surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath the gums. Once in place, dentists are able to mount replacement teeth onto them. Dental implants act as  artificial teeth roots, replacing the patient’s natural missing teeth.

Missing teeth can have an extensive impact on your oral health. It can affect your chewing ability, put strain on your gums and impact your confidence when you smile.

Signs and symptoms of tooth decay which can lead to missing teeth:

• Toothaches
• Sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold foods and drinks
• Pain when chewing

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please call Putney Dental Care on (02) 9808 2588. We specialise in treating and preventing tooth decay among our patients.

Dental Implants

Dental implants incorporate 3 main components:

1. A Titanium impact: a metal root
2. An Abutment: a post
3. A Crown

Benefits of dental implants:

• Replace missing teeth
• Improves your smile and gives you a natural looking and feeling option to replace missing teeth
• Low maintenance
• Can be cleaned as though they are natural teeth so you can continue your normal brushing routine

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