Health - Sedation and Implant Dentistry of Tehachapi

Have you lost the joy of eating it because your jaw hurts too much to open up that wide? At Sedation and Implant Dentistry of Tehachapi, we can help. For over 20 years, we’ve helped hundreds of Kern County residents get back to eating the foods they love by addressing both the symptoms and the causes of their TMD.

Tooth loss is very common, but you can try to prevent your teeth from falling out. Let’s evaluate whether or not you’re doing everything you can to keep your teeth for as long as possible. Here are the 8 most common causes of tooth loss.

Work, school, soccer games, whatever it is, these life events can cause preventive health care to fall by the wayside. Then a painful symptom reminds you it’s been a while since your last checkup. It’s tempting to put off seemingly minor dental issues until your schedule lightens up. But the warning signs below shouldn’t be taken lightly. This is especially true if you’re managing a chronic condition, like diabetes. Oral health should not be neglected.

Have you heard the saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”? That couldn’t be more true when it comes to scheduling your routine dental checkup. It’s easier to stop something from happening in the first place than to repair the damage after it has happened.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, approximately 54,000 people will be diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer this year. People who smoke are at a higher risk of developing oral cancer, gum problems and complications after oral surgery. Smokers have a lowered resistance to infections and healing.

Diabetes affects your whole body and oral health, especially your teeth and gums. People with diabetes have a higher chance of getting gum disease and Periodontitis. Periodontal disease can lead to chronic bad breath, difficulty eating, pain and even tooth loss. Diabetes can also slow down healing, so it can interfere with treatment of periodontal disease. The effect is even greater when your blood sugar is not well controlled, making it harder to fight bacterial infections.

Your mouth is full of bacteria that continues to build up on the teeth in a sticky layer, which is referred to as plaque. The foods and drinks you consume contain sugars that form bacteria in your mouth. Digesting these sugars form acids that eventually cause the enamel of your teeth to weaken. If this acid stays there for a longer period of time, it results in decaying of the teeth.

Periodontal disease is associated with several other diseases, according to research by the American Academy of Periodontology. Studies show that inflammation may be associated to other diseases.

Each year in the U.S., approximately 48,250 individuals are newly diagnosed with oral cancer. A majority of the cases are found in the late-stage of the disease. This accounts for a very high death rate. About half the people diagnosed with oral cancer will not survive more than five years. The good news is that your dentist can see or feel the precancerous tissue changes which might lead to a cancer.

The effects of sleep apnea can jeopardize your health, if left untreated. In fact, it’s estimated that 80 percent of Americans are undiagnosed but suffer from sleep apnea. Over time, sleep apnea can cause serious health issues, including: