Drink Away Teeth

T(ea) for Tooth Loss

 

The letter “T” can stand for many things, but to one unfortunate woman, T stood for tea and tooth loss.  With dental troubles like that it sounds like she could use another “T” word as in Team – The Dental Implant Team at Periodontal Associates to be more specific.

One Michigan mother relied heavy on tea to keep her hydrated and alert throughout her day.  Every day for the past 17 years this 47 year old woman drank 100 tea bags a day.  This habit was discovered to be damaging when she started experiencing bone pain in her extremities.  In conjunction with pain, she most likely visited a periodontist like Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman to remove all of her teeth after they became damaged and brittle.

 

These strange symptoms concerned her to contact her primary physician in fear she had cancer, but the cancer was not detected.  Instead, tests revealed high bone density and extreme levels of fluoride in her blood. 

With missing teeth, pain, and no answers, she was directed to Dr. Sudhaker Rao, section head of bone and mineral metabolism and director of the bone and mineral research laboratory at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Dr. Rao was the one responsible for discovering her bizarre habit of drinking one pitcher of tea made with 100-150 tea bags at a time.   Due to this tea strength, she had a fluoride concentration in her blood of 0.43 milligrams per liter, while the normal concentration is less than 0.10 mg per liter, Rao reported.  Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman recommend flouride but not these levels!  In fact, her habit and dangerous flouride ingestion lead to a bone disease called skeletal fluorosis.

Flouride, in the proper doses, is a great means to prevent tooth decay, tooth loss, and eventually the need for dental implants.  In fact, fluoride is even prescribed as a topical use to adults and children who live in home without fluoride in their water. However, dangerously high levels of fluoride can lead to bone disease as seen in this Michigan woman.  

Flouride does not make teeth harder or more dense like it did in this woman’s bones, but it does help them fight plaque, decay, and cavities.  Most children who grow up drinking water infused with fluoride generally have better overall oral health. 

When proper habits such as uses of fluoride, brushing, flossing, and good diet are not followed, many patients come to see Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman.  Here at Periodontal Associates in Aurora, CO we specialize in treating gum disease and dental implants.  This tea obsess woman would be a smart woman to visit with our periodontists as placing dental implants can sometimes mean the needs to other procedures first such as: bone grafts, sinus lifts, or extractions.

Many people suffer from bone loss or a bone disease if their missing teeth are not replaced, and Dr. Ken Versman, Doug Heller, and Eric Beckman are specially trained to strengthen bone to create a natural and dependable smile. 

If you are concerned about pain you may be experiencing in your jawbone, mouth, or teeth, we urge you to call our Periodontal Associates office at (303) 755-4500 where we serve all of the Denver metro area.  We will be happy to overview your health history, dietary habits, and radiographs while performing a full comprehensive exam to detect disease such as bone disease or gum disease and create an individualized plan for you.

Please visit our website for more information at www.periodontahealth.com.  We look forward to protecting your health while providing you with an esthetically pleasing smile with dental implants. 

Tooth Loss Causes

What Causes Tooth Loss?

Losing teeth is a common phenomenon.  Tooth loss can be natural and necessary, especially if you are among the ages of 6 to 12. However, many teenagers and adults reluctantly experience tooth loss due many different causes.  Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman want to take some time to discuss these reasons, and whatever your reason for missing one or multiple teeth, Periodontal Associates in Aurora, CO can find a dental implant solution that is right for you!

CONGENITAL ABSENCE Missing teeth does not always mean teeth have been removed; instead, some people are born without a particular tooth.  A nonexistent tooth at birth is called congenital absence.  The population frequency of this occurring is over 5 % (missing of wisdom teeth not included).  After wisdom teeth, second premolars and permanent upper second (lateral) incisors are the most commonly missing teeth due to congenital absence, and frequently the missing teeth are the permanent teeth.  This will be seen as the child ages and the baby, or primary, tooth falls out without a successor sprouting behind it.  Without a permanent tooth, the baby tooth can function for longer periods of time, but they primarily fall out due to dental disease or lack of root support.  Without a strong support system underlying the tooth, some function can be lost.  At this point, the baby teeth need to be removed.

Replacing a primary tooth with a dental implant is a specialty performed by our doctors: Dr. Ken Versman, Dr. Doug Heller, and Dr. Eric Beckman.  It is important to come to Periodontal Associates for this procedure as the site of a congenitally absent tooth could have a cyst-like structure in the jawbone called a tooth bud.  Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman specialized periodontists and are able to perform treatments in a soft and gentle manner suitable for kids.

 

TRAUMA For most people, primary and secondary teeth are developed normally.  However, often unfortunate events result in trauma that may take aware those teeth.  Trauma can cause the loss of teeth in many different ways.  Teeth can be ‘knocked out’ immediately due to injury from falling or sports.  In other cases and most frequently seen at our Periodontal Associates office in Aurora, teeth can go through a traumatic incident but not need extraction or fall out until months or even years later.  For example, a blow to the mouth can hit the tooth in such a manner that the root is fractured while the tooth is still implanted in the gum.  When the root of a tooth is fractured, infection can develop.  The body will then begin to break down the root surface.  Without a proper root, again the tooth will eventually fall out or would need extraction and implants.

Another form of trauma consists from mechanical movements while eating or sleeping.  Without knowing it, many may find themselves clenching or grinding their teeth, especially while sleeping. These habits, also called bruxing, can lead to cracking or fracturing teeth sever enough to result in extraction.  This is mostly caused by underlying stress.  Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman could diagnose this and help find a way to prevent further damage by use of a mouth guard.

 

DENTAL DISEASE Although Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman see many patients for dental implants after trauma, most patients visit Periodontal Associates due to periodontal (gum) disease.  Gum disease is an infection in the gums and the supporting structure responsible for holding a tooth in place. As gum disease progressed, the space between the gums and teeth increase which can lead to the tooth falling out. If the tooth does not fall out, the surrounding gum line can be so damaged that the tooth must be extracted.  Dental decay can lead to the same consequence.  Decay can lead to significant infection on the bone which affects the root of a tooth. Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, and Dr. Beckman are specialist in periodontics and can offer treatment and prevention for gum disease while also providing dental implants if needed.

No matter the cause of missing teeth, Periodontal Associates can provide you with the best individualized treatment to build a beautiful and long lasting smile. Our Aurora, CO office offers one of the most experienced, caring and dedicated staff members to assist you with your individual needs.  We work closely with your dentist – a key member of our team – to combine our expertise and experience to formulate the best treatment plan for you.  Dr. KenVersman, Dr. Doug Heller, Dr. Eric Beckman keep themselves abreast of the latest advances in the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease and the placement of dental implants. Most people, regardless of age, are good candidates for dental implants. So do not hesitate, call our Aurora office today for your FREE DENTAL IMPLANT CONSULTATION at (303) 755-4500.  Also, please visit our website at www.periodontalhealth.com to learn more about Periodontal Associates and what we stand for. If you have any questions you can call us or click here for questions and/or appointment.