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Did you know dental implants can stop or reverse bone loss as a result of missing teeth? The benefits of this permanent solution go far beyond cosmetics. Our dentists in North Vancouver explain how we can address a number of oral health issues.
Your dentist may recommend a bone grafting procedure and dental implant if you are missing one or more teeth. This will restore lost bone density, resolve your oral health issue, and restore your smile to a natural-looking and functional state. However, when deciding whether to get dental implants, you need to consider that time is crucial because ongoing bone deterioration poses a significant problem for your oral and overall health.
How Bone Loss Occurs
Continuous bone loss can lead to major dental and overall health issues if you delay getting a replacement tooth for a lost tooth. Living tissue with newly produced cells exists in your jawbone, as well as in other bones in your body. In a healthy jaw, cells grow, deteriorate, and then new cells replace them.
The typical process of eating and chewing is important in this growth cycle; as we chew, the force travels down our tooth roots to encourage bone growth in the jaw. However, when a tooth is missing, this process is disturbed, and the stimulus is lost.
Bone cells are not replenished at an acceptable pace over time, and the bone eventually loses volume. Furthermore, bone loss can extend beyond the local bone beneath the tooth, affecting the rest of the jawbone. The jawbone can decrease, making it weaker and more prone to fracture.
Can dental implants stop or reverse bone deterioration?
A dentist may propose a bone transplant and dental implants to help stop or reverse bone loss at the site of missing teeth, depending on your eligibility and a number of other variables. They will insert a tiny titanium post in your jaw to replace the root of your lost tooth. The dentist will place a crown or bridge on top of the post to finish the tooth replacement. New bone cells will develop around it and adhere to its surface as it heals. Over time, the bone will strengthen and fill in.
Why You May Need Bone Grafting Surgery
If your jawbone is not strong enough to support an implant, you may require a bone grafting treatment before the dental implant can be placed to encourage bone growth and increase bone density in the jaw.
You may require a bone grafting treatment in some situations to provide enough bone density for the dental implant to properly merge inside your jaw. Dental implants are placed after the bone graft has healed, and osseointegration—the process of uniting the titanium implant with the jaw—occurs.
It is vital to have dental implants installed as soon as possible after tooth loss. Consult your dentist in North Vancouver to see if this option is appropriate for you.
Note: This post is for informational purposes only. Seymour Dental Centre does not offer dental implants at this time.