If you are missing one or more teeth, it doesn’t just affect just your appearance and self-esteem, but your jaw's bone health and function as well. Dental implants can help you not only recover your confidence but maintain your overall oral health too.
But, how exactly can dental implants help support jaw bone health? Here are some of the benefits that dental implants can provide.
Roots of Teeth Have a Direct Influence on the Strength of the Jaw
The health of your jaw is connected to the health of your teeth, even if it may not look like that. When you are biting, chewing, or even smiling, the root of your teeth puts pressure on your jaw bone. This constant stimulation keeps the jaw bone strong.
On the other hand, if a tooth is missing, there is no more pressure transmitted to the jaw bone and, as a result, you will begin losing bone mass. Over time, this process will weaken the strength of the jaw and can eventually affect the entire bone structure of your face.
Dental Implants Activate a Process Called "Osseointegration"
Dental implants are made of titanium, a hard and lightweight metal that has the unique ability to bond directly with bone. They are inserted into your jaw where the tooth is missing. As the jaw and gums heal, the implanted tooth will go through a process called "osseointegration.” As the name suggests, it means that the implant will eventually become integrated into the bone and bond permanently to the surrounding tissue.
Once the dentist finishes placing the dental crown on the implanted tooth, it will help improve the process of transmitting pressure to the jaw, just as a natural tooth would.
As a result, your jaw will start being stimulated again and the process of bone resorption will no longer take place.
Alternative Treatment Methods Will Not Have the Same Results
It’s true that partial dentures and dental bridges are an effective way to treat a missing tooth, not because they stop the process of bone resorption, but because they have other benefits, such as:
- Treating an uneven bite pressure
- Stopping the other teeth from shifting toward the empty socket
- Improving the appearance of your smile
All of these benefits are very useful, but none of them can ensure the long-term health of the jaw, because neither a bridge nor a denture can transmit pressure to your jaw to stop the process of bone resorption. As a result, the jaw bone will gradually lose strength over time.
Let Our Denver Office Help You Improve Your Smile and Your Life
If you want to find out more about how dental implants can improve the health of your jaw in case you lose a tooth, here at Poulos, Somers & Marshall we are ready to help you understand your options and find the best treatment for your particular case.
And if you want to make an appointment with an expert from our clinic for an implant dentistry procedure that preserves the health of your jaw, contact us anytime in Denver, CO.
