Patients who are missing teeth can find a permanent, effective tooth replacement solution with dental implants. Implants can restore the appearance of your smile as well as oral functions.
Dental implants have a number of oral health benefits too, including regrowing jawbone. Dr. Jessica Christy, a dentist in Hendersonville, NC, describes how dental implants can improve the health of your jawbone.
What Happens to Jawbone After Tooth Loss?
In a healthy individual, the tooth extends below the gumline with the root reaching the jawbone. The root stimulates the jaw and keeps it healthy and intact.
If a patient is missing teeth, the jaw no longer has this stimulation, and the bone begins to deteriorate. This weakens the jaw and can further damage gums, jaw alignment, and remaining natural teeth. Patients with tooth loss may also notice the appearance of facial sagging as jawbone is lost.
How Can Dental Implants Help Jawbone Health?
A dental implant features a titanium post that a dentist surgically places into the jaw. Once this heals, your dentist will secure a prosthetic tooth or crown to an abutment at the gumline attached to the post.
The titanium post replaces the missing tooth root and begins stimulating the jawbone again. This stops bone deterioration and also encourages any jawbone that may have already been lost to regrow.
This prevents the appearance of facial sagging too. Dental implants can fill gaps in your smile and restore oral capabilities like eating and speaking.
Can My Jaw Support Dental Implants?
In order to receive dental implants, your jaw must be strong enough to support them. You might not have a strong enough foundation for implants if too much jawbone has already deteriorated due to tooth loss.
If this is the case, your dentist may recommend getting a bone graft in the jaw in order to build more structure that can support an implant once healed. Your dentist can discuss alternative tooth replacement treatment if this is not possible.
Dental Implants Available in Hendersonville, NC
Orchard Hill Dental offers dental implants and other restorative dental treatments to patients in Hendersonville, NC. Dr. Christy also specializes in cosmetic and general dentistry, including both preventative and emergency dental care. To schedule an appointment with us, contact our office online or reach us by phone at 828.247.7001.