Impact on total health of tooth loss
 In
the past, even in Bermuda, 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
Bermuda, 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 Landy 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. Landy 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 (that
preservation of the natural teeth is integral to whole-person wellness.
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