If you are missing teeth, you can find effective, permanent tooth replacement treatment with dental implants. This solution can restore oral function after tooth loss and fill gaps to enhance the appearance of your smile.
Dental implants can also stop bone deterioration in the jaw after tooth loss and may encourage bone regeneration. Dr. Ali Sarkarzadeh, a dentist in Rockville, MD, describes how dental implants can positively impact your jawbone health.
What Happens to Jawbone After Tooth Loss?
In healthy dental patients, the root of a tooth extends below the gumline and into the jaw. The root’s presence stimulates the jawbone and keeps it strong.
When a patient is missing teeth, the jaw no longer has this stimulation from the tooth root. With its absence, the bone begins to deteriorate.
This degeneration weakens the structure of the jaw and risks damage to your remaining teeth. It can also create the appearance of facial sagging.
How Can Dental Implants Improve Jawbone Health?
A dental implant consists of a titanium post that a dentist surgically places into the jaw. Once this heals, the dentist secures a prosthetic tooth or crown to an abutment above the gumline attached to this post.
The post replaces the missing tooth root and stimulates the jawbone once again. This stops bone loss in the jaw and also encourages the regeneration of bone that may have already deteriorated.
This allows for the optimal tooth replacement treatment, including restoring eating and speaking capabilities. Other restorative dental solutions, like dentures, might only replace teeth above the gumline, which does not treat the jawbone.
Can My Jaw Support Dental Implants?
In order to receive dental implants, your jaw must be strong enough to support them. If too much jawbone has deteriorated due to tooth loss, you may not have a stable enough foundation to successfully receive an implant.
If this is the case, your dentist may recommend a bone graft in your jaw to create a stronger structure that may support an implant once it heals. Otherwise, you can discuss alternative tooth replacement treatment with your dentist during a consultation.
Dental Implants and Other Tooth Replacements in Rockville, MD
Congressional Dental Care provides dental implants and other restorative dental treatments to patients in Rockville, MD. Dr. Sarkarzadeh also specializes in cosmetic and general dentistry for patients of all ages. To schedule an appointment with us, contact our office online or reach us by phone at 301.276.4694.