Dental Implants And Jawbone Health: How They Go Together
Posted on: 1 August 2023
Although appearances do count for a lot, having a healthy, beautiful smile isn't all about aesthetics. Your dental health is also something that affects your overall well-being, and that's why you should consider dental implants as a solution when you have missing lower teeth.
Why Are Dental Implants So Beneficial?
Dental implants involve having titanium posts surgically implanted into your jawbone so that they can act like artificial roots for your bridges or dentures, which are then custom-crafted to lock into place on the posts. This gives your replacement tooth a perfectly natural look and feel that's far superior to the alternatives.
Traditional dental bridges often pinch the gums and can be painful to chew with, while lower dentures can pop out of place with nearly every bite unless you have them secured with denture paste. Many people find their favorite chewy or crunchy foods are off-limits because of the instability of their regular bridges or dentures. Implants are designed to restore your ability to bite and chew freely, just like you did with your natural teeth.
But those are not the only reasons that dental implants are so popular. Dental implants stimulate bone growth in your jaw and prevent bone loss, which is something you can't get with other kinds of tooth replacement products.
How Do Dental Implants Stimulate Bone Growth?
When you're missing teeth in your lower jaw, the lack of roots sends signals to your body that you don't actually need all that boney material in your jawbone. That can ultimately lead to bone reabsorption and a sunken facial appearance. It can also lead to even more problems with chewing and difficulty keeping dentures that fit.
When titanium implants are placed into your jawbone, the surrounding bone eventually permanently fuses with the implant through a process known as osseointegration. This mimics your body's natural connection between your teeth and your jaw while providing extra stability for the overlying crown or denture.
As you bite and chew, those implants give your jawbone the necessary stimulation it needs to signal your body that the bone is still needed, and that's the key to keeping bone reabsorption from happening. Since your body will continue to rebuild the bone around the implants, you end up with a stronger jawbone structure and better oral health. This can also help preserve the natural shape of your face as you age.
If you're frustrated with traditional dental bridges or dentures and you want to protect your oral health, it may be time to look into dental implant services to see if they're right for your needs.
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