If you are missing teeth then you may have more to worry about than just the appearance. Here, our dentists in Surrey talk about how bone loss occurs with missing teeth and how dental implants may be able to stop it.
Missing can have a detrimental effect on more than just the appearance of your smile. When you are missing teeth it can cause a loss of bone density as your jaw bone begins to deteriorate. One way this can be resolved and prevented is with bone grafting and dental implant surgery. That said, when it comes to deciding whether to get dental implants, time is of the essence as continuing bone deterioration is a serious issue for your oral and overall health.
How Missing Teeth Can Cause Bone Loss
It is recommended to replace missing teeth as soon as possible, as continuing bone deterioration occurs. Similar to other bones in the body, your jawbone contains living tissue with cells that are created. These cells, like all others in your body, grow until they wear out at which point your body will replace them with new cells. The process will then begin all over again.
The normal process of eating and chewing plays a critical role in this growth cycle; as we chew, the force travels through our tooth roots to stimulate bone growth in the jaw. But with a missing tooth, this process is disrupted and the stimulus ends.
Over time, bone cells are not replaced at an adequate rate and the bone gradually loses volume. Not only that, but bone loss can continue beyond the immediate bone beneath the tooth, impacting the rest of the jawbone. This bone loss can affect the density of the jaw bone, making it weaker and more susceptible to fractures.
Can Dental Implants Help To Prevent Bone Loss and Restore Your Smile?
Dental implants and bone grafting procedures can help to restore the function of the jaw and teeth for many clients. A small titanium post will be implanted in your jaw to replace the root of your missing tooth, and later be capped with a tooth replacement such as a crown or bridge. As it heals, new bone cells will grow around it and adhere to its surface. As the new cells develop and grow in your jaw bone will thicken and become larger and stronger.
Will You Require a Bone Grafting Procedure With Dental Implants?
A bone grafting procedure may be required to stimulate bone growth and increase bone density in the jaw before your dentist can consider fitting you with a dental implant.
Depending on your circumstances, a bone grafting procedure may be critical to giving you enough bone density for the dental implant to correctly fuse together inside the jaw. After the bone graft has healed, dental implants are placed and a process called osseointegration occurs to allow the titanium implant to fuse with the jaw.
If you have missing teeth then it is imperative that you look into tooth replacement options as soon as possible to prevent further complications. Ask your dentist at Hanin Dental Surrey whether bone grafting may be right for you.