At Lafayette Dental Implant Center, we treat patients of various age groups. We have found that many seniors assume that they will experience tooth loss and do not attempt restorations when their teeth become damaged or infected. This is a mistake. Whenever possible, we recommend that you save your natural teeth. Whether you live in the Lafayette area or across the country, restorative dentistry plays a critical role in the health of your mouth and jaw. This is true for everyone and especially for seniors. Most seniors, especially women, tend to experience some type of bone loss; the severity of which is highly dependent on a persons’ health history, diet, and whether or not they exercise. Bone loss can lead to an increased risk of breaking bones, a loss of height and a change in appearance. This is particularly true when it comes to your facial appearance. Your natural teeth provide stimulation to your jawbone. Every time that you bite down and chew, your bone is being utilized, and the body supports it as such. If you start to lose teeth, the body may stop supporting the jawbone in that particular area because the stimulation will be lost. In this scenario, resorption starts to occur, and the body begins to take the calcium away from the jaw and feed it to other areas of the body. This can alter how a person appears and create an almost sunken-like appearance. This makes it beyond critical to save teeth whenever possible, something that we focus on by offering restorative dentistry. When we save a damaged or infected tooth, we are not only saving the tooth but also preserving the health and integrity of the jawbone and, therefore, your appearance. If you are a senior living in Lafayette, do not take your teeth for granted. Call us at the first sign of damage or infection so that we can save your teeth and restore them to good health.