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 Vancouver explain how we can address a number of oral health issues.
If you are missing one or more teeth, your dentist may recommend a bone grafting procedure and dental implant to restore lost bone density, resolve your oral health issue and restore your smile so it's once again natural-looking and functional. That said, when it comes to deciding whether to get dental implants, time is of the essence as continuing bone deterioration is a serious issue for your oral and overall health.
How Bone Loss Occurs
If you put off getting a replacement tooth for a lost tooth, you risk developing major dental and overall health issues owing to continuous bone loss. In your jawbone, as in other bones in your body, you have living tissue with newly produced cells. In a healthy jaw, these 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?
Depending on your eligibility and a number of other variables, we may propose a bone transplant and dental implants to help stop or reverse bone loss at the site of missing teeth. A tiny titanium post will be inserted in your jaw to replace the root of your lost tooth. To finish the tooth replacement, a crown or bridge will be placed on top of the post. As it heals, new bone cells will develop around it and adhere to its surface. 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.
In some situations, a bone grafting treatment may be required to supply you with enough bone density so that the dental implant can merge properly inside your jaw. After the bone graft has healed, osseointegration—the process by which the titanium implant is united with the jaw—occurs after dental implants are placed.
It is vital to have dental implants installed as soon as possible after tooth loss. Consult your dentist in Vancouver to see if this option is appropriate for you.