Tooth loss can significantly impact your life, disrupting the look of your smile and hindering your oral capabilities. But you could experience further oral health problems if you do not seek tooth replacement from your dentist. Missing teeth can lead to issues with your jaw.
Dental implants can help you preserve the bone in your jaw after tooth loss. Schedule an oral health evaluation to learn if implant dentistry will best restore your smile in the wake of tooth loss. Read on to learn what happens to the jaw following tooth loss and how your dentist can protect your smile.
How Does Tooth Loss Affect the Jaw?
The teeth of healthy dental patients extend below the gumline, forming a root that reaches the jaw. This tooth root acts as a stimulus for the bone in the jaw, keeping it strong and stable.
When you lose a tooth, the jawbone can no longer receive stimulation. The bone begins to deteriorate in the absence of the tooth root. This can mean the face will develop a sagging appearance.
Patients may also notice shifting in their remaining teeth, leading to further decline in oral function and the look of the smile. They cannot stop this bone loss on their own and will require intervention from a dentist to protect their jaws and therefore their oral health.
Can Dental Implants Preserve My Jawbone?
Dentists suggest implant dentistry as the most comprehensive and effective tooth replacement treatment, especially when considering jaw health. This device uses titanium post anchors that a dentist surgically inserts into the jaw.
The anchors fuse with the jawbone as they heal, where they can serve as strong supports for prosthetic teeth. Not only can patients look forward to the long-lasting restoration of their smiles, but they can see the preservation of their jawbone too.
The anchors serve as replacements for the missing tooth roots. The jawbone can receive stimulation once again, stopping its deterioration. It will also encourage bone that was already lost to regrow.
Patients can feel confident that they can maintain the look and feel of their smiles with restorative treatment from dental implants. With proper care, the implants can last for twenty years or longer.
Will My Jaw Support a Dental Implant?
Though the benefits are clear, not every dental patient can qualify for implant dentistry solutions. Implants rely on anchors that fuse with the jawbone. So the patients must have enough healthy bone in the jaw to support these anchors.
If too much bone has already deteriorated, then the patient will not successfully sustain a dental implant. The dentist can check the patient’s jawbone health using x-ray imaging taken during a consult.
They can suggest a bone graft to rebuild the structure of the jaw. In this oral surgery, the dentist can take bone material from elsewhere and place it within the jaw. Once healed, the jaw may be able to support a dental implant. If this is not feasible, talk to your dentist about other tooth replacement options.