If you have lost one or more teeth, you may notice negative effects on your oral capabilities and the appearance of your smile. But if you do not seek tooth replacement treatment from your dentist, you will notice further deterioration in your jaw.
Dental implants can restore your smile and protect the bone in your jaw. Katy Smile Design, a dental practice serving patients in Katy, TX, illustrates the positive impact that dental implants can have on your jawbone health.
How Do Dental Implants Help My Jaw?
What Happens to Jawbone After Tooth Loss?
In healthy individuals, a tooth will extend below the gumline to the jaw. There, it will stimulate the bone to keep the jaw strong. When a patient loses a tooth, the tooth root is missing too, and the jawbone no longer receives stimulation.
In its absence, the jawbone can deteriorate. This loss of bone structure may cause the appearance of facial sagging as well as the positioning of any remaining teeth to shift. Even if patients replace teeth above the gumline with a removable oral appliance, the treatment will not work to preserve the jawbone.
How Will Implant Dentistry Preserve My Jaw?
Dental implants feature a titanium post anchor that a dental professional surgically places into the jawbone. The anchor replaces the missing tooth root, providing stimulation for the jawbone once again.
The implant will stop the bone in the jaw from degenerating. It will also encourage any bone that was already lost to regrow. After a few months, the anchor fuses with the bone, and the surgical site heals. Then the patient returns to their dentist for the permanent placement of their prosthetic teeth.
Whether they have gotten a crown, bridge, or denture supported by implants, the patient can expect a lifetime of restorative benefits. They will not have to worry about their device slipping out of place or obtaining a replacement if their appliance wears down.
Can My Jaw Support Dental Implants?
Because a dental implant utilizes an anchor in the jaw that will sustain the prosthetic teeth, your jaw must be stable enough to support the titanium posts. If too much bone has already deteriorated, your jaw might not be able to successfully receive an implant.
Your dentist may suggest creating a stronger foundation in your jaw through oral surgeries such as a bone graft. Or if this is not feasible, they may suggest an alternative tooth replacement treatment. They can evaluate your jawbone structure using x-ray imaging taken during a consultation appointment.
Dental Implants and More Treatments in Katy, TX
Katy Smile Design offers dental implants and other tooth replacement solutions to patients in Katy, TX. Our practice also specializes in restorative, cosmetic, and general dentistry, including laser dental treatments. If you feel nervous about pending dental procedures, ask your dentist about sedation dentistry options. To schedule an appointment with our team of dental experts, contact our office by phone at 281.843.9814 or reach a member of our staff online.