Kitsie Hendrix D.D.S.

The first thing most people notice about others is their smile. That is perhaps the greatest reason dental care is so important. What you may not know, however, is that even if you do everything right, you can still develop periodontal disease—the primary reason for adult tooth loss.

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is caused by a sticky film of bacteria, called plaque, which collects on the surface of the teeth. In time, plaque hardens into tartar or calculus—a tough gritty substance that can be removed only by professional cleaning.

When calculus builds up over time, due to improper brushing, infrequent visits to a dental professional, or other factors, the gums can become infected. Eventually, the disease can break down the tiny fibers and bone that connect your teeth to your jaw. In the past, the only therapy for periodontal disease was to try to stop the disease from progressing and hope it was not too late to save the teeth.

While many people realize that smoking and stress can lead to cardiovascular disease, few may realize that they are also risk factors for periodontal disease. Preliminary epidemiologic studies suggest that there is a statistical association between loss of teeth and cardiovascular disease, and between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. It could be that these associations are coincidental, reflecting a lifestyle of personal neglect, which predisposes to both heart and dental diseases. However, it is possible that missing teeth and periodontal disease are additional risk factors for heart disease by predisposing the individual to chronic low-grade infections. In addition, the products of gum disease infection seep into the blood vessels around the teeth and change the lining of your vascular system.

Anyone facing the current reality of tooth loss has several treatment options to restore health and that original smile.

Guided Tissue Regeneration Therapy

Guided Tissue Regeneration therapy is a proven dental therapy that may give your teeth a second chance. During Guided Regeneration therapy, a GORE Regenerative Membrane is surgically placed around your tooth and forms a protective barrier, which allows your body to regenerate new, healthy tissue. It takes approximately 6 to 10 weeks for the body to heal itself and attachments holding your tooth in place to grow back.

Dental Implants

An ideal solution for people who have a missing tooth or teeth, but are in good general oral health, dental implants replace both the tooth and the root. Versatile, strong and natural-looking, dental implants can be used to replace one tooth, or a number of teeth.

The result is better health (able to bite and chew, creates a comfortable bite, reduces the load on remaining natural teeth), enhanced aesthetics, and improved speech.

Dental implants aren’t the same thing as artificial replacement teeth. Dental implants are actually the threaded metal cylinders that serve as the roots of missing teeth. The implant, sometimes called a post or cylinder, is surgically implanted in the jawbone beneath the gum tissue. An abutment, or extension, is attached on top of the metal cylinder. Finally, a realistic-looking artificial tooth (crown) is attached to the abutment, creating a three-piece device that completes your smile. You may have one tooth replaced with dental implant surgery or many.

For some people, ordinary bridges and dentures are simply not comfortable or even possible, due to sore spots, poor ridges or gagging. In addition, ordinary bridges must be attached to teeth on either side of the space left by the missing tooth. An advantage of implants is that no adjacent teeth need to be prepared or ground down to hold your new replacement tooth/teeth in place.

To receive implants, you must commit to keeping these structures. Meticulous oral hygiene and regular dental visits are critical to the long-term success of dental implants. Older adults have similar success rate with implants compared with younger people. As long as you’re in good health and your periodontist can restore healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant, you’re never too old to receive a dental implant.

Since periodontists are the dental experts who specialize in precisely these areas, they are ideal members of your dental implant team. Not only do periodontists have experience working with other dental professionals, they also have the special knowledge, training and facilities that you need to have teeth that look and feel just like your own.

By Kitsie Hendrix, D.D.S. – Kitsie Hendrix, D.D.S. graduated from Emory University School of Dentistry, subsequently earning certification in periodontology from the University of Pennsylvania. A periodontist, Hendrix specializes in gum and dental implant surgery and has practiced for over 27 years. Passionate about people, Hendrix has traveled worldwide providing free dental care through mission work.