How Implants Prevent Bone Loss
Platte City, MO
Tooth loss is one of the biggest oral health concerns that a person has. Not only does it impact the appearance of your smile, making you self-conscious, but it also impacts the functionality of your mouth, making it difficult to eat and chew.
One of the worst effects of long-term tooth loss on your oral health is the loss of jawbone tissue. Jawbone loss causes your remaining teeth to move out of place, changing your facial appearance.
Dental implant placement is the best way to prevent loss of jawbone tissue and keep your facial structure intact. Implants are a restorative dentistry procedure that help restore the appearance and functionality of your mouth while preventing bone loss.
Let’s have a look at how dental implants help prevent bone loss.
How Does Tooth Loss Lead to Bone Loss?
The jawbone requires stimulation for its growth and development. It maintains its shape and density through the stimulation provided by the teeth through biting and chewing. The constant and regular movement of the teeth encourages the jawbone to rebuild itself. Tooth loss results in loss of stimulation for the jawbone, causing it to lose height, width, and volume. Moreover, as the jawbone loses its tissue mass, specifically in the case of multiple missing teeth, it causes the structure of the face to drastically change.
How Do Dental Implants Prevent Bone Loss?
Implants are a highly effective treatment that replace missing teeth and prevent jawbone tissue loss. Unlike other tooth loss replacement procedures, such as dentures and bridges, dental implants are surgically placed within the jawbone to mimic the natural tooth root. This small titanium bone is bio-compatible with your jawbone, and binds with it through a process known as osseointegration. Once the osseointegration process is successful, the jawbone will receive stimulation again and regenerate itself, preventing any further bone loss.
What If I Already Have Jawbone Loss?
It is normal for those with long-term tooth loss and worn-out dentures to experience a loss of jawbone mass and tissue. However, when it comes to dental implants, an adequate amount of jawbone is required to support the implants and ensure the success of the procedure.
Luckily, even those who have suffered from significant loss of jawbone density can still get dental implants right after they get a bone graft. A bone grafting procedure helps rebuild parts of the jaw to ensure that there is sufficient density to support dental implants.
Who is a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Since dental implants require minor oral surgery, a candidate needs to have good general health and healthy teeth and gums. A dental implant candidate should be a non-smoker or must quit smoking prior to getting the surgery. Moreover, one must also have adequate jawbone density to undergo dental implant placement.
Book an appointment with us now
Looking for more information about dental implants? Wondering if you qualify for implants? We provide comprehensive dental services, including dental implant placement at Platte Valley Dental Care. Call us now at (816)858-2027 to book your appointment. |
