How Dental Implants Help Prevent Bone Loss
Missing tooth/teeth leave a gap(s) that are cosmetically unpleasant and expose the surrounding area to bone loss, not to mention infections. With the progression of bone loss, defective speech and discomfort when chewing may ensue. One also experiences confidence and self-esteem issues owing to bone loss-related aging. But all these are preventable, thanks to dental implants.
Dental implants have become the go-to tooth replacement option because it’s cost-effective. What’s more, its outcomes are predictable, not to mention the various host of benefits. A dental implant functions just like a natural tooth.
A dental implant comprises three parts: a dental implant body, abutment, and crown. The implant body is surgically inserted and serves as the root, filling the gap left by the missing tooth. The abutment supports the implant in the gum part and attaches to the crown, which serves as an artificial tooth. Because implants mimic the function and structure of a natural tooth, they can replace missing teeth, irreparably broken or decayed teeth, dentures (removable teeth), or bridges (fake teeth).
Bone loss ensues in the site surrounding missing tooth/teeth. The alveolar bone, which surrounds the tooth and attaches to the jaw, holds the tooth firmly in place. Missing tooth/teeth causes the alveolar bone to waste (atrophy), upsetting the facial structure in the long term. Left unfilled, the gap(s) exposes a person to a host of bone loss-related complications.
Missing tooth means the absence of a root. A root fills up the jaw, strengthening the bone. And because the implant body functions as an artificial root, it keeps the site active, stimulating bone growth through osseointegration.
Osseointegration occurs when bone cells fuse with an implant. It is a prerequisite for successful dental implants, as it ensures the implant attaches firmly to the jaw. The strength of the jawbone-implant integration is believed to increase remarkably within 12 weeks of replacement.
Studies show that the amount of bone mass in the missing tooth/teeth site affects the strength and effectiveness of dental implants. Therefore, it’s advisable to get an implant immediately following tooth/teeth loss or extraction to boost the implant’s effectiveness and durability.
Dentures are another option for replacing missing tooth/teeth. They consist of removable plates that attach to gums with “teeth.” However, dentures can accelerate bone loss. Due to chewing and teeth clenching, dentures wear away at bones in contact areas.
The fact that dentures wearers must make routine visits to the dentist for adjustments reinforces the idea that dentures do not prevent bone loss. They only restore the aesthetic and cosmetic functions of natural teeth. Because the gap left by a missing tooth remains, people with dentures present with sunken, aging appearance.
It’s called facial sagging and occurs when the lower third of the face sinks due to bone loss, reducing the distance between the chin and the nose. It makes the person appear older than they are. On the other hand, dental implants cprevent bone loss-related facial sagging and aging.
While dentures can restore the aesthetic functions of teeth, they do not prevent bone loss. Dental bridges serve the same purpose as dental implants but are expensive and invasive, requiring altering two perfectly healthy teeth to support attachment, not to mention their relatively short lifespan. Therefore, dental implants remain a sustainable, predictable, cost-effective tooth replacement option.
