Our smile is much more than just our teeth. It can often be a reflection of the physical and mental state of the human body. Dental health is closely linked to our overall well-being and health. Despite the advances in modern dentistry, the abundance of dental care products and information, teeth can probably be safely called the most commonly lost human organs. According to a study conducted several years ago, 30% of adults in Lithuania do not have more than six teeth, and almost 45% of men and women have lost between one and five teeth. It is therefore important to find out why we lose our teeth and how to restore them.

Myths about the causes of tooth loss

It is commonly believed that teeth are lost due to the natural ageing process but the causes are usually simpler. This has been observed by Raimondas Savickas, a Dentist and Orthopaedic Surgeon at a modern prosthetics and implantology clinic in the capital. “Every time a new patient visits our clinic, they start telling us why they think they lost their teeth. However, these beliefs are often far from reality. During the examination, it usually becomes clear that tooth loss was caused by the very same factors related to lifestyle and inadequate dental care. Ironically, it can be stated that we usually lose our teeth because the life we lead is too good. In the past, the diet of most people consisted mainly of unrefined, high-fibre foods that naturally cleaned the surface of the teeth, such as wholemeal flour, vegetables, fruit and seeds, while sweet foods were consumed very rarely. Modern people’s diet is completely different: they often snack on foods high in carbohydrates and do not shy away from sugar and processed foods, as a result crushed food residues constantly accumulate in the oral cavity and bacteria multiply, promoting tooth and gum disease,” says the specialist.

Raimondas Savickas also notes another widespread conviction that teeth are inevitably lost due to poor genetics. “Patients often console themselves by saying that everyone in their family has weak teeth. Yes, it is true that a genetic predisposition to various diseases can be inherited but most oral diseases are caused by microorganisms that feed on food residues that accumulate in the mouth, not because of genetics, but because of poor hygiene. The oral cavity does not have to be sterile, but it is essential to control the amount of bacteria,” reveals the doctor.

Life changes after tooth loss

People who have lost teeth sometimes do not even notice how it changes their daily lives. The first changes appear almost immediately: people avoid socialising with others, stop smiling and laughing openly, and start chewing food only on the side of the mouth where they still have some teeth. However, these are not just minor inconveniences, but also a threat to physical and mental health. Doctor Raimondas Savickas warns about this. “When teeth are lost, the first thing that deteriorates significantly is the ability to chew food as a person has to chew longer, but we often don’t have time for that, so the entire digestive system and the quality of food absorption can suffer. In addition, teeth are part of the vocal apparatus, therefore, losing them impairs the clarity of speech.”

The specialist also says that delaying the restoration of lost teeth for a long time leads to a series of other changes: the entire “alignment” of the teeth is disrupted as adjacent teeth shift into the empty spaces in the mouth, and over time it becomes much more difficult and expensive to restore them. In addition, the interaction between the jawbone and the teeth is disrupted in the place of the lost teeth. With reduced bone stimulation, it begins to deteriorate. Over time, there is no longer adequate support for the lips in the mouth which changes the facial features: the person looks visually older, the cheeks sink and wrinkles become more pronounced. For all these reasons, many patients note that as the number of teeth decreases, so does a person’s self-esteem, we become self-conscious and more withdrawn,” reveals Raimondas Savickas.

The variety of tooth restoration methods

In order to avoid problems associated with tooth loss and maintain good health, it is important to choose the most suitable tooth restoration method for each patient. Raimondas Savickas, a doctor who has been working in the field of prosthetics and implantation for two decades, points out that teeth can be restored in several ways: “The first is removable dentures. This is a low-cost and quick solution but it causes many inconveniences and requires a long adaptation period. Non-removable bridge prostheses are also an option for tooth restoration. They are more comfortable but in order for them to stay in place, the adjacent teeth have to be shaved which shortens their lifespan. In addition, if the adjacent teeth are still healthy, we are, in a sense, violating a fundamental principle of medical ethics: first, do no harm,” says the specialist with many years of experience in prosthetics.

Another option is tooth restoration by means of implants. This is a modern and reliable method that allows one, several or even all teeth to be restored. Using various dental implant treatment methods, missing teeth can be replaced with stable, natural-looking and long-lasting artificial teeth. When asked to name the advantages of tooth restoration with implants, the doctor at the Prosthetics and Implantology Clinic first mentioned two words: conservatism and comfort. “Implant structures are not affected by decay, they make it possible for lost teeth to be restored without damaging adjacent teeth, and patients can enjoy comfort and functionality,” says Raimondas Savickas. The doctor also emphasises that in order for implanted teeth to last for many years, it is essential to avoid repeating mistakes and to take better care of oral hygiene. “Daily care of dentures and implants is usually not particularly difficult, but teeth must be cleaned much more carefully and thoroughly than before they were lost to prevent a “disaster” from happening again. Patients must be taught how to quickly and effectively care for their third “set” of teeth. Regular and high-quality oral hygiene works wonders: it protects against dental diseases, gum and jawbone inflammation, and ensures the longevity of both natural teeth and implants. It is also advisable to have an appointment with a dental hygienist at least several times a year for professional teeth cleaning and a preventive check-up of your natural and prosthetic teeth,” emphasises the doctor.

Dental restoration is much more than just a type of oral treatment. All patients have different problems, doctor Raimondas Savickas therefore believes that one of the key aspects before starting dental restoration is to listen carefully to the patient’s expectations. “At our clinic, we can apply the most modern dental reconstruction methods: aesthetic fillings, implants, all types of prosthetics but we strongly believe that before treatment, it is most important to clearly identify the patient’s needs, which may vary depending on their age, lifestyle, financial resources and priorities. Only then can we find the most suitable solution and give the patient the opportunity to start a new phase of their life, enjoying natural-looking and reliable teeth,” says the specialist.

The dental condition of the Lithuanian population is worrying. According to the WHO, as many as 30% of people over the age of 65 have lost all their teeth. In addition, a significant number of younger people face the same problem. In modern dentistry, there is a solution for every predicament and tooth loss is no exception. Professional doctors, using innovative solutions, can restore teeth that are as good as natural ones. Which prosthetic path should for edentulous patients choose?

Implant supported dental protheses as an advanced solution

Removable dental prostheses are probably the most cost-effective way to restore all teeth. Due to the inconveniences caused, such as unstable fixation and poorly restored chewing function, removable dental plates are chosen by increasingly fewer patients nowadays. This method of restoring teeth is being replaced by a reliable and long-lasting solution: dental implants. 

Restoring teeth on implants involves a dental technician and a dentist. Dental technicians fabricate individual dental crowns, which are fitted by the prosthodontist onto a replacement tooth root, i.e., a dental implant. In order to achieve a successful final result, the focus is not only on aesthetics but also on phonetics, morphology and the restoration of the chewing function.

Course of dental prosthetics

Your doctor will help you choose the type of dental prosthetics after examining your oral condition, taking the necessary tests and photographs. Dental prostheses fixed on implants are called dental crowns. They are individually made from metal or metal-free ceramic according to the impressions taken of your mouth. The aesthetic appearance and quality of the new teeth depend on the material chosen. Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental protheses are impervious to light and therefore do not look natural enough. On the other hand, this option is lower in cost.

Zirconia-ceramic crowns are a particularly aesthetic solution because this material reflects light and is almost indistinguishable from natural teeth. When restoring edentulous jaws, the materials can also be combined. For instance, metal-ceramic systems may be used for the molars and metal-free ceramics for the aesthetic area. It is important to note that the quality and longevity of the result depends not only on the materials but also on the doctor’s competence, experience and the patient’s responsibility when taking care of the newly restored teeth.

For more information on prosthetic dentistry, click here.

These days, neither doctors nor patients have any doubts about how effective dental implants are. While implants are not the only way to replace lost teeth, let us admit that bridges and removable dentures are getting outdated. Nevertheless, some patients have restored their teeth using these methods. The question is how many of them are satisfied with their choice?

Dentures lead to psychological trauma

Dentures falling out at the most inopportune moments is a common situation captured in comical images. But is it really funny? Not for those who find themselves in this situation. People who wear dentures live in constant fear that their dentures may fall out at any moment and feel self-conscious about not being able to speak clearly.

Some of the disadvantages of dentures are not immediately apparent. With dentures, the chewing function is almost completely lost, and without the necessary load, the jawbone deteriorates. Over time, these consequences become clearly visible on the face: the chin moves forward, wrinkles become more pronounced, the lips become thinner and the person looks older. Such adverse changes are psychologically traumatic. It is difficult to imagine the hell that people who wear dentures go through, forced to take them out every night and keep them in a glass of water.

Is it worth shaving healthy teeth?

In the past, permanent teeth were restored with bridges. Plaque which is difficult to clean accumulates under dental bridges. The most absurd thing about this method is that artificial teeth are restored at the expense of other, completely healthy teeth: the healthy adjacent teeth are shaved down and artificial crowns are attached to them. Teeth that have been shaved down drastically become unstable, and it is therefore naive to expect them to last for a long time. The goal of every professional dentist is to preserve as much healthy tooth tissue as possible which is why the method of restoring teeth with bridges is rarely used these days.

The advantages of implants are undeniable

The reliability of dental implants no longer needs to be proven. The effectiveness of the treatment is proven by facts and reviews from thousands of patients. Patients who have had their teeth restored with implants say that apples and nuts are no longer a challenge for them, and that a broad smile has become their daily companion. An aesthetic smile and harmonious facial features restore self-confidence. Most importantly, patients who have had their teeth restored with implants forget that they are not their own teeth as teeth restored on implants are permanent, look natural and are not felt in the mouth.

The crown on the implant not only looks very natural but also completely replaces the lost tooth for life. With dental implants, there are no longer any obstacles to communicating, chewing food properly, laughing and feeling free.

The achievements in modern dentistry are astonishing. The choice of oral and dental care products and the availability of information are wider than ever before. Despite this, dentists regret that patients lose their teeth too often and too early.

Raimondas Savickas, a Dentist and Orthopaedic Surgeon at the PIK clinic in Vilnius, says that teeth are lost for various reasons. “This can be caused by different factors such as genetics and hereditary diseases. Some patients are indeed more prone to diseases such as periodontitis, which affects the hard and soft tissues of the mouth. If left untreated, this is a real cause of tooth loss.”

Nevertheless, a predisposition to disease is certainly not a death sentence. “It is a risk factor, but there is practically nothing that modern dentistry cannot overcome. The direct causes of tooth loss lie elsewhere,” says Raimondas Savickas.

The doctor revealed the three most common causes of tooth loss:

• Poor hygiene. Regardless of whether a patient is prone to disease or not, poor oral hygiene can lead to tooth loss. Plaque builds up on unkempt teeth and turns into tartar. This condition causes gingivitis which progresses to periodontitis. From there, it is only a few steps to a toothless smile. “It is essential to brush your teeth thoroughly in the morning and evening, and not to forget dental floss and mouthwash. Even if you brush your teeth correctly and thoroughly, you will not be able to avoid professional dental cleaning as only this procedure can remove hard plaque,” says the dentist.

• Rare appointments with the dentist, i.e. avoiding the dentist, are another sensitive issue. “Older patients remember Soviet dentistry very well. Perhaps that is why they avoid treatment. Unfortunately, not all diseases of the teeth and oral cavity are detected early. Sometimes patients seek help from a dentist when the damage has already spread. Often, it is impossible to save such a tooth and it has to be removed,” admits Raimondas Savickas. That is why it is important to see a dentist at least once or twice a year.

• Diet. Foods containing carbohydrates, sugars and acids have an adverse effect on tooth enamel. The same applies to carbonated drinks, drinks high in sweeteners, coffee and black tea. Not to mention bad habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption. “We tend to neglect moderation. Often, these products make up a large part of patients’ diets. This quickly leads to damage to hard dental tissue and tooth decay. If left untreated, this condition increases the likelihood of tooth loss,” warns the doctor.

Do not wait until you feel pain and take care of your teeth now! Have an appointment at the PIK Clinic where experienced professionals will assess the condition of your mouth and teeth, identify any problems in a timely manner and prescribe effective treatment.