Total health is impacted by tooth loss
In the past the loss of teeth (edentulism) was
dismissed as a natural part of the aging process, and dentures were considered a
normal sign of old age.
While such ignorance is rapidly becoming a thing of the past, there
is still not a general awareness of the seriousness of edentulism.
Multiple tooth loss is most commonly caused by periodontal disease, i.e. gum and
bone disease. Periodontal disease has a
high statistical correlation with chronic debilitating diseases, such as
diabetes, cardiovascular disease and arthritis.
So it is not very surprising that studies now show a shortened life expectancy
by as much as 10 years for persons who have lost their natural teeth, when
compared to those who have kept their teeth.
In addition to longevity, quality-of-life differences are just as significant.
The functional efficiency of dentures has been measured to be only 20% of that
of natural teeth. There cannot be any doubt that
nutritional deficiencies will be much more prevalent in those without their
natural teeth.
Loss of teeth often causes a feeling of loss of wholeness and a sense of
deterioration and aging. Given these factors, preservation of the natural teeth is integral to whole-person wellness.
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