Dental Implants Can Stop Bone Loss
Dental implants are a wonderful tooth replacement option. They can be made to look exactly like your original teeth, they are durable, and they are rooted directly into your jaw for security. Can they actually stop the dental bone loss process though? First, lets try to understand dental bone loss, and what causes it.
What is Dental Bone Loss?
Dental bone loss it what happens when you live with missing teeth long enough that the bones in your jaw stop receiving stimuli to grow. Without osseointegration, or the process of bone integration in your jaw, the bone tissue begins to recycle for use in other parts. When there is no tooth in the root of the jaw, there is no stimulation to the osteoblasts in that root, and the tissue move on to other areas for support. Then the tissues around that area begin to do the same, which allows otherwise healthy teeth to move and become misaligned, leading to more tooth loss.
What causes Dental Bone loss?
- Missing Teeth- Missing teeth which have not been replaced are the prime culprit of dental bone loss. The ergonomic force of your mouth is distributed in an unnatural way, which causes the tissues to degrade, and more teeth to become loose.
- Infection- Infections cause tooth loss, and degrade the tissue necessary for the health of your mouth. Bacteria enters your gumline, your blood, and causes mayhem in your mouth.
- Disease- Whether from infection or inheritance, gum disease will wreck the strength of your jaw or teeth, and cause tooth loss. This will in turn cause dental bone loss.
- Trauma- Trauma can break or damage your jaw and gums, which breaks the secure structure of your teeth. Trauma can also cause partial breaks or chips to your teeth, which left untreated will advance into dental bone loss.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is the solution to dental bone loss. A dental implant begins as a dental anchor, which is surgically inserted into your jaw, stimulating osseointegration. The anchor is usually made of something very sturdy, like titanium, and as you heal your body accepts the anchor and fuses to it. Then an abutment piece and dental crown are attached to the anchor, providing you a new tooth all the way to the root. As you care for and use your new teeth, you will constantly be stimulating the osteoblasts below, activating bone growth in the tissues in the area.
How to receive a dental implant
See your dentist and begin the process. A thorough x ray and examination should be conducted. Implants require some healthy jaw tissue to work with, without this you may need to first consider a bone graft. If your dentist accepts your candidacy for dental implants, you can then begin to research materialis, cost, and recovery times. Plan for the whole process to take several months, but the recovery will depend on your whole health. Be sure to discuss any history of infections or disease with your dentist, so they can be prepared for your treatment.