Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is caused by more than 600 types of bacteria living in the oral environment. Thriving in spaces lying between the teeth and gums, these bacteria give off toxins that are extremely harmful to gum tissues, the periodontal ligament (structure helping to hold the tooth in its socket) and bone tissue supporting the teeth. Destruction of these oral structures is irreversible and jeopardizes their relationship with the teeth, increasing the risk of tooth loss.
Infection of the periodontal tissues is typically a slowly progressing condition, categorized in two stages known as periodontitis and advanced periodontitis. If action is not taken to diagnose, treat and maintain the earlier stage of periodontitis, continued loss of bone support easily leads to the advanced stage of the condition. In advanced periodontitis, the bone has suffered extensive loss, lending to tooth mobility. When the amount of bone tissue is insufficient to continue supporting a tooth, the tooth is deemed hopeless and may require extraction.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is caused by acid-producing oral bacteria that thrive when certain factors are in place. A more acidic pH of the saliva, consumption of carbohydrates and dehydration of oral tissues helps create the perfect environment for these bacteria to flourish and cause tooth decay. When tooth decay is detected early on, treatment can be rendered to repair the tooth structure. However, extensive tooth decay that penetrates the pulp chamber (nerve center of the tooth), places the tooth in peril, causing infection that travels down the root canals and into surrounding bone. Tooth decay that causes irreparable damage, beyond any help a root canal or tooth restoration could provide, often leads to loss of the tooth.
Damage Due to Injury
Teeth sustaining injury from blunt-force trauma caused by an object, fall or accident are at high risk for immediate or future tooth loss. When teeth suffer such an impact, they can break, become avulsed (displaced from the tooth socket) or experience damage to the pulp chamber that results in the tooth slowly dying over time. Teeth severed from their supporting structures are difficult to replace, as only a small window of time exists during which such a procedure may be possible.