Tooth loss is a common problem, but it is widely misunderstood. Lots of people believe that losing teeth will just produce a “gummy” smile and that it makes chewing more difficult. While both of those things are true, the consequences of tooth loss actually go much further than that. In fact, it can lead to significant bone loss in the jaw! In this article, we’ll discuss why that happens and how dental implants can put a stop to this deteriorative process.
Bone Resorption
You can think of teeth as having two major sections: the crown, which is everything you see above the gumline, and the root, which anchors the tooth in the jawbone. Tooth roots help to keep the jawbone strong by stimulating the flow of blood and nutrients to the area. When a tooth root goes missing, that stimulation stops. Therefore, the body begins to resorb, or recycle, the raw bone material.
Even a single missing tooth can lead to a significant amount of resorption. In fact, according to one estimate, up to 25 percent of the bone that once supported a tooth may be lost in the first year after an extraction. The more teeth you lose, the more likely it is that the bone resorption will affect your facial aesthetics and cause your cheeks and jaw to look small and sunken.
Preventing Resorption
Dental implants are prosthetic tooth roots, usually constructed out of a titanium alloy. A skilled dentist carefully inserts them into the jawbone at the site of a missing tooth. After the placement surgery, the bone bonds with the implant. This procedure can thus “trick” your body into believing that you have a real tooth there and prevent bone resorption.
If you know you soon need to have a tooth extracted, now is the time to speak to your dentist about getting an implant to replace it. If you have already lost a few teeth, getting implants (along with a possible bone graft) may actually help to reverse the bone loss that has already occurred.
Additional Dental Implant Benefits
Dental implants do more than help to keep your jawbone healthy. They also:
- Support prosthetic teeth that are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth
- Provide you with a strong bite force
- Have the potential to last a lifetime
- Can prevent your remaining natural teeth from drifting out of place
- Spare you from the inconveniences of traditional dentures
Bone resorption is one of the many sad consequences of tooth loss, but you don’t have to let it happen to you! Dental implants may be the key to helping you regain a complete smile and maintaining a healthy jawbone.
Meet the Practice
At Carlson Advanced Dentistry & Facial Aesthetics, we pride ourselves on our ability to help patients regain complete, beautiful smiles after tooth loss. Dr. Richard Carlson, the leader of our team, has even completed training at the prestigious Misch Implant Institute. Dr. Khoi Le is an active member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and has all the training necessary to perform advanced implant procedures. Would you like to learn more about how our skilled doctors can help to rebuild your lost teeth and preserve your jawbone? Contact us today at 904-262-8449.