How Dental Implants Can Prevent Bone Resorption

If you’re missing one or several teeth and want to recover your mouth’s natural functions, Georgetown dental implants may be the best restorative dentistry solution you can find.  

Besides offering stability and strength, dental implants help prevent bone resorption, a condition where the jawbone density declines, causing sunken cheeks, increasing wrinkles, and increasing the chances of tooth loss in the long term.

What Is Bone Resorption and Why Is That Important?

Unbeknownst to most, there’s a deep and valuable relationship between your teeth and your jawbone’s health. Through your teeth’s internal nerve or pulp, your jawbone receives a constant influx of nutrients and minerals—while providing their own to foster the tooth’s strength.

This is also why teeth that have undergone root canal treatment can become more brittle than normal, often needing a dental crown to provide support.

Without a tooth’s root providing nutrients and support, the jawbone starts losing density and receding progressively.

How Do Dental Implants Prevent Bone Resorption?

One of the benefits of dental implants is that they’re the only restorative dentistry procedure that promotes the regeneration and strengthening of jaw tissue while preventing the resorption of the jawbone.

This is due to their two-part design, which includes a tiny screw-shaped post that serves as a substitute tooth root and a crown, bridge, or denture attached on top. This design helps maintain your jawbone density in two ways:

• Titanium, the biocompatible material used to make this post, fuses to the jawbone and keeps it stimulated long after the original tooth's root is lost.
• Thanks to the crown attached to the top, the replacement tooth transmits bite forces into the gum and jaw tissue, just like a natural root would.  

All of this contributes to preserving the jawbone and can even help it regenerate after minor resorption.‍

Consequences of Jawbone Density Loss

As bone density decreases, the honeycomb-like spaces within the bone get bigger, and the outer walls get thinner.

This process is faster than you may think, especially after age 50. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, 50% of bone loss happens in the first six months following tooth loss, and 25% occurs in the first three months.

This can have several consequences, such as:

• Sunken or collapsed cheeks
• Increased wrinkles around the mouth area
• Premature aging
• Misalignment of teeth
• Trouble chewing

So, acting promptly is important to avoid unforeseen consequences.

Preserve Your Jawbone Health with Georgetown Dental Implants

Jawbone resorption is a condition that can significantly impact a person’s oral health, facial aesthetics, and overall quality of life. While its causes are varied and complaint, loss of teeth can significantly contribute to it. Thankfully, there are treatment options to prevent it.  

Even if it’s been several years since you lost a tooth, you can start caring for your jawbone health now with the help of Georgetown Sedation Dentistry. Reach out and learn more about the benefits of dental implants!