Tooth loss can occur for various reasons. As children grow and develop, they will naturally lose their baby teeth. As the jawbone grows and becomes bigger, there is more room for their adult teeth to develop correctly. Adults, too, can lose teeth from accidents, injuries, and poor oral hygiene. At URBN Dental in Houston and Katy, we have several options to replace missing teeth to help you achieve a gorgeous smile.
According to the CDC, 20 to 34-year-olds generally have 27 teeth. As we age, tooth loss can start to occur. By the time someone is 50 to 64 years old, they will have lost four teeth. Tooth loss between the ages of 65 and 74 generally results in losing another two or three teeth.
By the time most adults reach 75 or older, they have between 19 and 20 teeth left. Additionally, in a research study between 2011 and 2016, the NIH reported that around 2.2% of 20 to 64-year-olds had no remaining teeth, while those who did had an average of only 25.5 teeth.
Being aware of the common causes of tooth loss in children and adults can help you take preventative steps to reduce the risk of losing teeth.
Children are generally at risk of tooth loss from poor oral hygiene habits. They do not care for their teeth as well as adults because they have challenges reaching behind their teeth and brushing their molars. They usually do not floss because they find the task too difficult to do on their own. The common causes of tooth loss in children include:
Tooth loss in adults can occur for the same reasons as in children but also include others, such as:
Several risk factors can contribute to adult tooth loss, including:
Losing a tooth is a natural part of growth and development for children. However, once their adult teeth start developing, it is vital for parents to pay attention to potential warning signs of tooth loss. Adults should also be aware of these signs and see their dentist as soon as possible if they experience any of these:
There can be some complications from tooth loss that can worsen as we get older and lead to further complications, including:
Fortunately, there are several viable ways to prevent and treat tooth loss in children and adults. Ideally, people should strive never to lose a single tooth unless it is necessary to remove a tooth, like impacted wisdom teeth.
Prevention involves taking care of your teeth and overall oral health. For children, this often requires the assistance of an adult until they can better manage their oral hygiene themselves. Proper prevention includes:
Dental implants have become one of the best options for replacing missing teeth. Implants can be used to replace single teeth or multiple teeth. There are even implant bridges and dentures available as alternatives to traditional ones.
Dental bridges are used to fill in multiple adjacent teeth when there are natural teeth still available to support the dental bridge. Traditional bridges are attached to the natural teeth after being altered and enamel removed. If you don’t want to alter your healthy teeth, an implant dental bridge would be a better solution.
Partial and full dentures fill in larger sections where tooth loss has occurred. While traditional dentures restore teeth, some people find it hard to chew and eat certain foods. Others can have problems with chronic bad breath. Additionally, gum shrinkage and jawbone density loss can still occur with traditional dentures. To avoid these issues, more people are turning to implant dentures.
You should see your dentist if you notice any of the warning signs of tooth loss or have other concerns about your oral health and hygiene habits. At URBN Dental, our dentists and dental hygienists will help address your concerns, answer your questions, and provide education on achieving and maintaining proper oral health.
If you have lost a tooth or several teeth, you can trust URBN Dental and our Houston dentists to create a customized care and treatment plan to restore your smile’s appearance. We are a full-service dental office and provide general, preventative, restorative, and emergency density services. We also offer complete smile makeovers with our cosmetic dentistry services, like teeth whitening and porcelain veneers.
Many types of tooth loss treatments are covered under dental insurance, which will lower your out-of-pocket costs. Our Katy and Houston dental offices accept most major PPO plans, and we are a preferred Delta Dental provider. Take the steps to restore your beautiful smile by contacting us to schedule a dental appointment today.
You should always attempt to treat tooth loss when it occurs. Delaying treatment can lead to other dental problems, such as jawbone density loss, shrinking gums, periodontal disease, and changes to your facial features.
Deciding what type of tooth replacement you want depends on whether you have dental insurance, your budget, and what will best improve your oral health. URBN Dental offers easy financing and low monthly payments, so getting the tooth replacement you want is affordable and obtainable.
Tooth loss treatment will vary depending on which replacement option you choose. For example, dental implants can take between four and six months. Traditional dental bridges and dentures generally take about a few weeks.
It also depends on if you need any other treatments, like bone grafting or gum tissue grafting. The care and treatment plan we customize for you will let you know how long your tooth loss treatment is anticipated to take.
Periodontal Disease & How You Can Prevent It. (2024).
Tooth Loss in Adults (Age 20 to 64). (2022).
2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report: Selected Findings. (2024).
© Copyright 2025 | Designed & SEO Optimized by The Doctors Marketing | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | HIPAA
CALL: (346) 447-7399
5578 Weslayan Street, Houston, TX 77005
450 Meyerland Plaza, Houston, TX 77096
