148 JULY 2019
#5
“Is losing teeth an inevitable part of
ageing, or can it be prevented?”
It’s a misconception that losing teeth is a natural progression of ageing,
explains TERESA CRAWFORD, dental hygienist at Atria-City Dental
Group. With proper dental hygiene and professional dental care, she
says, anyone can successfully keep all of their teeth, even into old
age, and enjoy the benefits that come along with a good set of teeth.
“Nowadays, an elderly person with a full set of teeth is becoming
more common,” says Teresa. “Tooth loss is very often due to the neglect
of dental care, which leads to cavities and gum disease. The latter is
the most common cause for tooth loss in adults.”
Gum disease, she says, is generally not painful until it’s at a late
stage, and bleeding gums (noticeable when brushing your teeth) is an
indicator of active gum disease. Other signs may include bad breath,
gaps occurring between the teeth from gum recession, sensitivity of
teeth to liquids, teeth becoming mobile and, in advanced disease,
loss of teeth.Atria City Dental Group
#08-08 Ngee Ann City Tower B
391B Orchard Road
6737 2777 | atria-city.com“Good personal oral hygiene and regular dental check-
ups with professional cleaning, which is recommended
twice yearly, are important in helping to maintain healthy
gums, and prevent cavities and other problems before they
become serious,” says Teresa. “Professional teeth cleaning
involves scaling and polishing to remove plaque build-
up and calculus (hardened plaque) from teeth, thereby
keeping the teeth and gums healthy. With healthy dentition
and gum tissues, you will be able to keep your teeth for a
lifetime by keeping gum disease at bay.”#6
“What are my options with a
fractured tooth?”
“Having a fractured tooth can be a painful experience, as
the fracture can extend into the pulp – the nerve tissues
inside the tooth,” says DR FRANCIS LEE, a restorative
dentist at Atria-City Dental Group. “In addition to pain,
it also becomes a cosmetic issue when the front tooth
is involved. To save the tooth, your dentist will likely
recommend a root canal to remove the infected pulp
and stop the pain.”
After root canal therapy, Dr Lee says that a crown – a tooth-
shaped cover placed over the fractured tooth – is applied to
strengthen the structural integrity of the tooth. While crowns
can be made of various materials, he says high-strength
ceramic and zirconia are popular choices, as they help to
restore the natural look of the tooth and possess the strength
to restore the biting function of the tooth.
If the fracture extends below the gum line or into the
roots of the tooth, however, Dr Lee says the tooth will
no longer be treatable and will have to be extracted.
Aesthetics aside, loss of a tooth can cause various
problems such as loss of bite force, and movement of the
remaining teeth. Therefore, in this case it’s important that
the tooth be replaced.
Dr Lee explains that the two most common methods for
tooth replacement are bridges and implants. While bridges
can be less expensive and be done faster than implants,
he says the latter are becoming more popular because the
adjacent teeth do not need to be drilled and implants help
to preserve the jaw bone.
“Always try to give your fractured tooth a second
chance; never have it extracted unless it’s proven that
it cannot be saved,” advises Dr Lee. “With a competent
restorative dentist and root canal specialist (endodontist),
a fractured tooth can be restored and made good again.”