Edentation: What can be done to replace missing teeth?

Edentation is a medical term that refers to the absence of one or more teeth in adults.

While tooth loss in children means that the milk teeth have to fall out for the permanent teeth to develop, in adults this corresponds to a dental pathology.

In order to better understand the condition, dentists classify edentation by different categories:

• Class 1 tooth loss: refers to the absence of back teeth (molars, premolars)
• Class 2 tooth loss: refers to the absence of posterior teeth (incisors, canines) unilaterally (top and bottom)
• Class 3 tooth loss: refers to the absence of teeth because they are recessed on one side. Only the base of the tooth is visible
• Class 4 tooth loss: refers to the absence of total anterior or posterior teeth

For many, tooth loss can cause major insecurities. In addition, tooth loss can lead to complications when chewing or digesting food or even when feeding patients. In addition, edentation leads to complications in jaw strength and maxillary physiology.

Edentation can be considered a handicap depending on the severity.

Edentation: what are the causes?

Cavities are the first causes of tooth loss. If cavities are not treated in time, it is possible that the infection will burrow into the tooth and reach the nerve. Once the tooth is infected, dentists may have to resort to edentation.

A traumatic blow to the teeth can cause recessed edentation (class 3).

Poor nutrition, including micronutrient and vitamin C deficiencies can affect the health of your teeth. When teeth are weakened, they fall out. A lack of oral care also results in tooth loss.

In addition, in the context of certain types of chemotherapy, edentation is often a necessity to ensure the effectiveness of treatment and eliminate the risk of proliferation of infectious cells in the blood.

Furthermore edentation is also caused by so-called periodontal diseases. Infections of the gums such as gingivitis can alter the root of the tooth and cause edentation.

Edentation: what treatments are available?

In order to correct edentation, the only treatment is the placement of dental prostheses under the supervision of a dentist.

The treatment entails placing a titanium screw in the gum where the tooth was located . It is attached to the jaw bone to form a root for the crown. At the end of this first stage, the dentist attaches a crown to the titanium bur that assumes the shape of a natural tooth. The crowns are made of porcelain or resin. The dental implantology technique is the ideal solution to replace one or more missing teeth with very natural results.

In the absence of more than one missing tooth, it is possible to use a partial denture to fill in the gaps of the missing teeth. The denture is attached to the palate or other teeth.