Can Dental Implants Help Prevent Bone Loss in the Jaw?
Yes, dental implants are capable of preventing the jaw from bone loss through the function of artificial tooth roots that stimulate the bone during chewing.
Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, which are non-invasive, implants are placed surgically into the jawbone, and later, they merge with the bone in a process known as osseointegration. This process keeps the jawbone intact as it is the same bone that is left to be resorbed when a tooth is missing.
How Jawbone Health Relies on Tooth Roots
The roots of natural teeth play a major role by providing the jawbone with the necessary stimulation each time you are chewing or biting and thus, the bone density and power are maintained. In case of a lost tooth, the bone in the area is no longer stimulated, resulting in the shrinking of the jawbone through the process of resorption, which may also cause the weakening of the bone structure and the change of the facial appearance.
What Are Dental Implants and How Do They Prevent Bone Loss?
One dental implant is a titanium post that is attached with surgery to the jawbone of the place where the tooth root had been. The implant through a natural process which is called osseointegration binds permanently with the bone and the implant becomes the artificial root. The bond thus formed is something which not only keeps the jawbone strong but also prevents bone loss as it simulates the forces exerted in the jaw by real teeth.
Each and every bite and chew would put some amount of pressure of the dental implant on the bone thus a good bone growth will be achieved and the jawbone will be preserved both in its density and structure. Dentures or bridges which just lie on the gums without any stimulation of the bone cannot help in this regard, while implants can keep the bone from losing its strength and thus, the shrinking or collapsing of the jaw is prevented.
The Dental Implant Procedure
It starts with the examination of the health of the jawbone through some imaging techniques. If the bone loss is too much, a bone graft or sinus lift may be necessary to get the site ready for the titanium implant that will eventually be inserted through surgery.
This is followed by a few months period during which osseointegration takes place and only then the abutment and the crown can be attached, thus, fully restoring the function and the aesthetic of the tooth.
Additional Benefits Beyond Bone Preservation
Dental implants not only give back the lost ability of the patient to chew or speak in a natural way, but the implants also maintain the beauty of the face through sustaining the bone structure and provide a permanent solution that looks and works like your own teeth.
Implants further stop the teeth that are next to the open space from moving which is the case when a tooth is missing.
Considerations for Implant Success and Bone Health
Not everyone can get implants right away. Overall health, oral hygiene, smoking, and bone density are some of the factors that affect success levels.
Good oral care and visits to the dentist on a regular basis are necessary not only for the maintenance of implants but also for the health of the jawbone in the long run.