Earlier this month, a third grade student in a British Columbia elementary school was distressed when, after a tooth fell out in class, it was lost in the playground during recess. The school’s principal, Chris Wejr, was proactive in his approach to the situation and quickly sat down to compose the tooth fairy a letter on the school’s official letterhead.
The letter explained the situation and asked that the tooth fairy proceed to reward the child even though the tooth was gone. The letter was posted to Facebook, and quickly went viral. The child had a happy ending when the fairy did visit that night.
Wiggling your teeth until they come out can be fun when you’re a child. Having a loose tooth, or actually losing your tooth, as an adult is significantly less enjoyable, mostly because we know there are no adult teeth waiting to fill in. In this case, the tooth fairy is probably going to be taking more money than she leaves behind. Here are a few things you should know about dealing with loose or lost teeth.
Why is My Tooth Loose?
In most cases, the reason adult teeth are loose is periodontal disease. About 47% of all American adults have mild to severe periodontal disease. This is when bacteria gets caught in the pockets of gum around your teeth. The inflammation can eventually cause an irreversible loss of bone. Once this cradling bone mass is gone, your teeth can become loose and fall out. You can avoid the advance of periodontal disease by using proper brushing techniques, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly for a full dental cleanup.
What are Cosmetic Dental Implants?
If your tooth does fall out as a result of disease or trauma, you can choose to have a fake tooth, or implant, inserted into the empty socket. Cosmetic implants are titanium rods inserted carefully into the jawbone by a dentist. After the site heals, a crown, or fake tooth, is attached to the top.
Is There Such a Thing as Dental Implant Insurance?
Although there may be a few insurance plans out there that cover implants, for the most part, there is no such thing as dental implant insurance. This is because most insurance companies count implant surgery as “elective,” in spite of the dual health and physical benefits. Typically, implants cost about $2,000 to $4,000 per tooth. While this can be a high cost, it’s worth noting that they don’t usually require the lifelong upkeep and alterations that dentures or bridges do.
Do you have dental implant insurance? How are your teeth? Let us know in the comments. Read this for more: www.salemdentist.com
