If you are missing one or more teeth, a dental implant can offer permanent tooth replacement treatment. You can restore your oral functions and boost the appearance of your smile with implant dentistry.
Implants also improve jawbone health in the event of tooth loss, unlike other tooth replacement solutions. Brighter Smile Family Dentistry and Orthodontics, a dental practice located in Sterling, VA, describes the health benefits that dental implants can provide for your jaw.
What Happens to Jawbone After Tooth Loss?
In a healthy dental patient, the natural tooth extends below the gumline, and the tooth root stimulates the jawbone and keeps it strong. When the tooth is lost, the root is absent too.
Without this stimulation from the tooth root, the jawbone begins to deteriorate. The weakening jaw can cause remaining teeth to shift out of place and create the appearance of sagging in the face.
How Can Dental Implants Help My Jaw?
Unlike other tooth replacement solutions, like dentures, which only replace teeth above the gum line, the anchor of a dental implant can replace a missing tooth root. A dental professional will surgically place a titanium post into the jaw, which can then support a prosthetic tooth.
The implant restores oral capabilities as well as the appearance of a patient’s smile. But it can also stop the degeneration of the jawbone because the anchor can stimulate the bone like a tooth root. It will also encourage the regrowth of bone that may have already deteriorated after a tooth was lost.
Is My Jaw Stable Enough to Support Implants?
If too much bone in your jaw has already deteriorated due to tooth loss, you may not be able to support dental implant treatment. The anchor of an implant requires a strong and stable foundation in order for the treatment to be a success.
Your dentist may recommend procedures to add more stability to the structure of your jaw so that you can receive implant dentistry treatments after healing. One example of this kind of oral surgery is a bone graft.
Dental Implants and More Restorative Solutions in Sterling, VA
Brighter Smile Family Dentistry and Orthodontics offers dental implants and other tooth replacement solutions for patients in Sterling, VA. Our practice specializes in restorative, cosmetic, and general dentistry for patients of all ages. To schedule an appointment or consultation with us, contact our staff online or reach our office by phone at 571.266.0255.