There are a number of causes of missing teeth, which can broadly be placed in one of two categories: trauma or disease.
Trauma includes any sort of blow to the mouth or face which causes a tooth to be knocked out.
Common causes of such trauma include sports accidents, falls and road traffic accidents, although it is possible to break a tooth simple by biting on something hard, even if this is quite rare.
Disease includes tooth decay and gum disease, which can cause teeth to wear away and come loose.
From a dental point of view it is easier to treat missing teeth when they have been lost through trauma because at least the gum and the rest of the teeth are healthy.
Obviously, the best way to avoid losing teeth is to take great care when playing sports and wearing the appropriate protective equipment such as gum shields.
Consistent dental hygiene is the only way to protect your teeth from gum disease and tooth decay.
This means thoroughly brushing teeth twice a day and flossing as well as avoiding highly sugary and acidic foods.
Some little known advice relating to dental hygiene is that is actually a bad idea to brush teeth straight after eating or drinking something acidic.
Because acidic foods soften the teeth enamel, brushing the teeth right away will weaken and wear the enamel more than it would if brushing was delayed until an hour or so after eating.
Missing teeth can be treated using various types of false teeth.
Some are temporary and removable and others are permanent and fixed.
The costs associated with replacing lost teeth depend on the method of replacement undertaken and the method undertaken depends on the number of missing teeth and the reasons for their loss.
Removable dentures can be placed to replace a few missing teeth.
They are made up of a metal frame with the appropriate number of false teeth made in ceramic or plastic on the frame.
Using such removable dentures as these is significantly less expensive than having surgical dental implants fitted and is much quicker.
Dentures can normally be ready in less than a fortnight and only two appointments are required.
Dental implants are different in that they are surgically fixed into the jawbone and a ceramic or plastic false tooth is later fixed on to the top.
A surgical procedure with a local anaesthetic is required and up to six months of healing will be needed before the final crown is placed, making this a lengthy and costly procedure.
It does however have the advantage of being a long-lasting if not permanent solution provided the implants are card for.
Trauma includes any sort of blow to the mouth or face which causes a tooth to be knocked out.
Common causes of such trauma include sports accidents, falls and road traffic accidents, although it is possible to break a tooth simple by biting on something hard, even if this is quite rare.
Disease includes tooth decay and gum disease, which can cause teeth to wear away and come loose.
From a dental point of view it is easier to treat missing teeth when they have been lost through trauma because at least the gum and the rest of the teeth are healthy.
Obviously, the best way to avoid losing teeth is to take great care when playing sports and wearing the appropriate protective equipment such as gum shields.
Consistent dental hygiene is the only way to protect your teeth from gum disease and tooth decay.
This means thoroughly brushing teeth twice a day and flossing as well as avoiding highly sugary and acidic foods.
Some little known advice relating to dental hygiene is that is actually a bad idea to brush teeth straight after eating or drinking something acidic.
Because acidic foods soften the teeth enamel, brushing the teeth right away will weaken and wear the enamel more than it would if brushing was delayed until an hour or so after eating.
Missing teeth can be treated using various types of false teeth.
Some are temporary and removable and others are permanent and fixed.
The costs associated with replacing lost teeth depend on the method of replacement undertaken and the method undertaken depends on the number of missing teeth and the reasons for their loss.
Removable dentures can be placed to replace a few missing teeth.
They are made up of a metal frame with the appropriate number of false teeth made in ceramic or plastic on the frame.
Using such removable dentures as these is significantly less expensive than having surgical dental implants fitted and is much quicker.
Dentures can normally be ready in less than a fortnight and only two appointments are required.
Dental implants are different in that they are surgically fixed into the jawbone and a ceramic or plastic false tooth is later fixed on to the top.
A surgical procedure with a local anaesthetic is required and up to six months of healing will be needed before the final crown is placed, making this a lengthy and costly procedure.
It does however have the advantage of being a long-lasting if not permanent solution provided the implants are card for.