How to Protect Jawbone After Tooth Loss

Patients who suffer from tooth loss might have lasting concerns when it comes to the appearance and function of their smiles. Their oral health may continue to decline if they do not seek tooth replacement from their dentist. Specifically, their jaws may sustain further damage without restorative treatment.

These patients can find ideal protective benefits for their jaws and the rest of their smiles with dental implants. Read on to learn how implants can preserve the health of a patient’s jaw after losing one or more teeth.

WHAT HAPPENS TO JAWBONE AFTER TOOTH LOSS?

In healthy dental patients, their teeth extend below the gumline to reach the jaw. This tooth root stimulates the bone in the jaw, and its presence keeps it strong and healthy.

If a patient loses a tooth, the jawbone no longer receives stimulation and begins to deteriorate in the absence of the tooth root. This can lead to the appearance of facial sagging and the shifting of remaining teeth.

This can cause further complications with the look of a patient’s smile as well as their abilities to chew and perform other oral functions. The bone loss in the jaw will continue without intervention from a dentist. So you should visit your dentist to address this issue before your dental structure becomes majorly altered.

HOW DOES A DENTAL IMPLANT HELP MY JAW?

A dental implant features a titanium post anchor that a dentist surgically places into the jaw. Once this heals and fuses to the jaw, it provides secure support for the prosthetic crown, bridge, or denture of the implant. The type of implant may vary depending on the patient’s unique needs, but each implant will need at least one anchor.

The anchor serves as a replacement for the missing tooth root. Many other restorative treatments replace teeth above the gumline, but the implant offers greater advantages.

This anchor will stimulate the jawbone once again, stopping the bone’s deterioration. It will also encourage bone that has already been lost to regrow. This treatment will not only preserve the patient’s facial structure. It also enhances the patient’s smile and health in multiple ways.

WILL MY JAW SUPPORT A DENTAL IMPLANT?

Though implant dentistry offers longevity, security, and uniquely effective advantages, not every patient will qualify for this treatment. Because the anchor of the implant must fuse with the jaw, the patient must retain enough bone in the jaw to sustain this process.

If too much bone has already deteriorated due to tooth loss, you might not be able to successfully receive an implant. Your dentist can see the structure of your jaw using x-ray imaging taken during a consultation appointment.

The dentist may suggest building stability to the jaw using a bone graft procedure. This involves taking bone from elsewhere in the body and adding it to the jaw. When this heals, the jaw may then be strong enough to support a dental implant. If this option is not feasible, a dentist may suggest alternative tooth replacement treatments.