There are many reasons for bone resorption or loss of jawbone density to occur – from gum disease and dental trauma to teeth grinding and having a misaligned bite. However, the most ubiquitous cause of bone loss is the loss of a tooth, whether it be extracted or knocked out. Read on in this blog from Tranquility Dental Arts to find out why this is.
Why Tooth Loss Causes Bone Resorption
A tooth’s visible portion is known as the crown. This is the portion of the tooth that we see above the gum line. However, your tooth extends beyond this point, below the gum line, and is what anchors it in place.
When you chew, the tooth’s root stimulates the jawbone by transferring the force from the root to the jawbone. This causes the underlying alveolar bone to regenerate cells to preserve the jawbone. When you lose a tooth, the tooth’s root goes along with it.
This means there is no longer any stimulation being provided to the jawbone, which means there will no longer be a regeneration of cells and the bone begins to resorb. Since the jawbone thinks it’s no longer needed, this bone mass is transferred to other locations in the body.
This happens in as little as 6 months after losing a tooth and in one year following tooth loss, 25% of the bone deteriorates.
Consequences of Bone Loss
Bone loss has far-reaching consequences that are often under-discussed. Many patients don’t realize the consequences of losing a tooth without sufficient replacement. Bone loss will cause many aesthetic issues over time, including premature facial sagging due to a lack of support for facial muscles.
Even worse, entire facial features can collapse and changes to your bite will occur. The skin around your mouth will become looser, leading to wrinkles, and you will have difficulty speaking as clearly. Bone loss increases your risk of future tooth loss.
When patients get tooth restorations like dentures or dental bridges, the changes in their face and bite will cause them to become ill-fitting in just a few years, requiring early replacement.
How Implants Prevent Bone Loss
Dental implants embed a titanium post into the jawbone and then attach an abutment to it and finally, a restoration such as a crown, denture, or bridge. After placing the implant in the jawbone, a crucial process known as osseointegration takes place.
This is when the jawbone grows over the implant over 3 to 6 months and they fuse, forming an artificial tooth root. This tooth root restores stimulation to the jawbone when you chew by transferring the force to the jawbone and regenerating cells to replenish the existing bone.
This prevents resorption and preserves the existing jawbone. Once the jawbone is lost, it cannot grow back, but you can get bone grafts that are taken from somewhere else in the body to replace the existing bone.
Bone grafting is a common procedure performed on patients who are already suffering from bone resorption so they can create enough support for an implant.
FIND OUT IF YOU’RE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS IN PLACENTIA
Only dental implants restore a tooth’s crown as well as the root. Because other restorations only replace a tooth’s crown, they cannot prevent bone loss and the accompanying consequences. If you’re interested in dental implants in Placentia, contact us at Tranquility Dental Arts to schedule a consultation with Dr. Nguyen.