Losing teeth brings about many oral issues. While some of them may be as obvious as an imperfect smile, some are as hard as difficulties with eating, chewing, and talking. These issues may feel less threatening, but there are others, such as bone loss, that are unfavorable to our health. Losing teeth can lead to serious bone loss if left untreated over time. At Ford Dental Group, we use dental implants to ensure that our patients do not suffer jaw bone loss.
How Does Losing Teeth Result In Bone Loss?
Teeth roots play a vital role in the preservation of the jawbone density and structure. Naturally, the jawbone holds the teeth and keeps their structure and mass when it receives stimulation from the teeth. This stimulation occurs when we chew and use our teeth. The stimulation produced by our teeth’s action is sent through the tooth roots to the jawbone, ensuring that it keeps its density and support.
As soon as a tooth is missing, the stimulation from that tooth is gone. If the jawbone does not receive stimulation from that area, it begins to lose its shape and form in that area. The more teeth that are missing, the faster the jawbone recedes. Once the jawbone starts losing its structure, the surrounding muscles and structure are also affected, eventually resulting in an altered facial structure. At this point getting options to replace those missing teeth becomes harder, as you may require other procedures to rebuild the affected jawbone.
How Can Dental Implants Prevent Bone Loss?
Over the years, dental implants have proven as highly effective solutions for replacing missing teeth. Similarly, they are very effective in preventing bone loss in the jaw. Dental implants are tiny posts made from titanium, and are surgically placed in the jawbone to act as artificial tooth roots. When they are placed, the jawbone will grow around the titanium post, fusing and holding it into place securely.
Since the dental implant is now the tooth root, it receives an artificial crown that is attached by an abutment, simulating a complete tooth. Once healed, the implant feels like your natural teeth, and performs the same functions as the other teeth. This dental implant sends stimulations down to your jawbone, helping it regain density and keep its form.
What Happens If You Already Have Bone Loss?
Usually, patients who have had tooth loss over a long period without replacements would have suffered varying degrees of bone loss. Thankfully, our professionals can help you restore the jawbone to a healthy degree through a procedure known as a bone graft. A bone graft will help us rebuild your jaw to a density that can healthily support a dental implant.
Who Is A Candidate For Dental Implants?
While dental implants are often the most suitable tooth replacement options, they require a surgical procedure, and candidates for dental implants will have to be in good general and oral health. Patients who smoke or have underlying health issues may be advised with helpful practices to ensure the success of the procedure. Usually, our professionals will examine your medical records as well as your current oral health to help you determine if you can get dental implants immediately. For more information, our team at Ford Dental Group are always ready to answer your questions, just call us at (714) 409-6161 to learn more. Visit our site to learn more about the benefits of dental implants and aftercare instructions.
