A Missing Tooth Can Lead to Bone Loss

Learn about the importance of investing in dental implants after having teeth pulled.Today’s message from the Carrollton Dentist focuses on the impact of missing teeth on bone health.

Our teeth have many critical functions. We need them to chew our food, talk, and smile. But have you ever considered their role in holding up your face? When we lose teeth, the bone around the site of the extraction begins to shrink. This, in turn, causes our facial muscles to sink in and collapse.

Bone Metabolism

We sometimes think of bone as a solid mass, unlike the softer tissues in our body. In reality, below the seemingly rock-hard surface, bone tissue is full of small holes – kind of like a sponge. In the interior bone tissue, the bone is constantly regenerating itself. This critical process is sometimes called “bone metabolism.” In the jaw bone, the movement of the teeth stimulates this process of rebuilding. When the tooth is gone, the bone starts to shrink as blood flow is reduced.

People with missing teeth not only have an unappealing gap in their smile, but they also begin to look older because of the bone recession and eventual facial sagging.  It is not simply an issue of attractiveness – it poses serious health dangers. It may become difficult to chew food, making it harder to get adequate nutrition. Mental health can also be affected when a patient with missing teeth loses confidence in themself or withdraws from social situations because they are self-conscious about their smile.

Dental Implants Can Prevent Bone Recession

Modern dentistry to the rescue! Dental implant technology provides a tooth restoration solution that maintains healthy bone metabolism while providing near-normal tooth function. For patients missing many (or all) of their teeth, it may not be possible to replace every single tooth with an implant. In many of these cases, dental implants can be used to provide an anchor for a partial denture.

What if your bone has shrunken so much that there is not enough to support an implant? You may be a candidate for bone augmentation or bone grafting. This procedure is routinely performed with success.

If you are missing teeth, don’t resign yourself to dentures. Tooth implants can provide a brilliant smile! Schedule a consultation with Dr. Yashmin Subba by calling 972-323-0501.

 

Contact The Carrollton Dentist:

972-323-0501

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2440 N Josey Ln Ste 101
Carrollton, Texas
75006

 

ArticleID 8540

New Patient

Online Offer

FREE Initial Cosmetic Consultation

($179 Value)

Contact Us

Today

Contact Us

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Dental

Warranty

Peace-Of-Mind For All
Of Your Dental
Procedures

Skip to content