Patients with tooth loss may suffer additional dental concerns if they do not pursue treatment from their dental professional. Optimal tooth replacement with dental implants can restore the function and appearance of a patient’s smile if they are missing teeth.
Implants, unlike other teeth replacement treatments, can help these patients stop bone loss in their jaws. Dr. Brenda Paulen, a cosmetic dentist in Sandy Spring, GA, describes how dental implants can prevent jawbone deterioration after tooth loss.
How Does Tooth Loss Affect My Jawbone?
In a healthy individual, the tooth extends below the gum line to the jawbone. This presence of the root stimulates the bone to keep it strong. If the tooth is lost, the bone no longer receives stimulation and begins to deteriorate.
Bone loss in the jaw means that your face loses its structure, leading to the appearance of facial sagging. This can also cause remaining teeth to shift and create additional dental problems.
How Do Dental Implants Prevent Bone Loss?
A dental implant consists of a titanium post that a dentist surgically inserts into the jaw. When this heals, they secure a prosthetic tooth to an abutment above the gumline, effectively replacing a missing tooth.
This post replaces the absent tooth root as well, stimulating the jawbone again. The replacement stops bone degeneration and encourages regrowth of jawbone that may have already been lost while the tooth was missing. This treatment can prevent further dental harm resulting from tooth loss.
Will My Jaw Support Dental Implants?
A dental implant requires your jaw to provide a stable foundation in order to support the prosthetic tooth. If too much jawbone has deteriorated when the tooth was missing, your jaw might not be able to successfully receive an implant.
Your dentist can evaluate the amount of healthy bone in your jaw during an oral examination which may include x-ray imaging. They may suggest a bone graft to create additional structure in the jaw that might support an implant once healed.
Dental Implants and More in Sandy Spring, GA
Proud Smiles offers dental implants and other tooth replacement solutions to patients in Sandy Spring, GA. Dr. Paulen also specializes in cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry, including both preventative and emergency dental care. To schedule a consultation or appointment with us, contact our office online or reach us by phone at 404.418.7734.