How Implants Prevent Bone Loss Our bones require the motion and movement of exercise to stay healthy and robust. Any bone that is not exercised will atrophy - it's just the human response. This is true for the jawbone as well. When a patient loses a tooth, that spot is no longer stimulated. We can restore the health of the bone through the surgical placement of a dental implant, improving your jawbone health and your overall oral health. Our team at Moser Dentistry & Oral Surgery Implant Center is excited to show you the difference that an implant can make.Jawbone HealthOur jawbone consists of three main components: the upper jaw, lower jaw, and the hinge joints that hold them together and allow them to open and close. Set inside the upper and lower jaws are the tooth root which contains a tooth. A healthy jaw contains a full set of teeth with proper alignment. Poor alignment can disrupt the hinge joint causing problems. Poor alignment can come from teeth naturally out of alignment, teeth that have shifted because of open space, or teeth that are missing. When a patient is missing a tooth, a cascade of negative results can occur. Room for Teeth to ShiftMissing teeth leave room for other teeth to freely move, and this is rarely in your favor. Many patients ask if losing a tooth is actually a good thing, to help with overcrowding. Though an orthodontist may remove a tooth to alleviate overcrowding, it is always done with a plan. Losing a tooth leaves room for uncontrolled movement. This can disrupt the hinging joint and alter your alignment leading to jaw issues such as TMJ disorder. Atrophy and Bone LossWhen a tooth is lost, the bone responds with atrophy. All of our bones require exercise to stay healthy. Our jaw does this through the many fleeting touches of our teeth every day. When a tooth is lost, the root is also lost. This is important to note because simply placing a replacement tooth without a root system means that the motion is still not transferred to the bone. The bone will shrink with loss. Missing one tooth does not make a noticeable difference, but the more teeth you lose, the bigger impact it can make. Eventually, your facial shape can change giving you a sunken, older appearance. How Dental Implants HelpTo reestablish the transfer of energy following the loss of a tooth, we need to rebuild the root. This can be done with a dental implant. A dental implant is not a tooth, but rather a root that we can use as a firm post to secure a dental prosthetic to, including a dental crown, bridge or denture. We surgically insert the dental implant into the jawbone, making a direct connection to the bone, allowing the new tooth to transfer the energy of motion to the bone. By reestablishing this connection, we can help you have healthy bone again. Schedule an AppointmentIf you're missing a tooth and are interested in learning more about how dental implants can preserve the bone in your jaw, contact Moser Dentistry & Oral Surgery Implant Center today at (737) 355-6213 to schedule a consultation. |
