Lost Teeth Impact Total Health - Dr. Anema Can Help
In the past,
even in the Wheat Ridge area, 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
in Wheat Ridge, 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. At smiles by Mark we know that 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.
Dr. Anema feels that 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, we feel at
smiles by Mark
that preservation of the
natural teeth is integral to whole-person wellness.
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