If you’re exploring your options for tooth replacement in Del Mar, you may have heard that dental implants are your best choice because they support your jaw bone health. But what does that mean, and how do dental implants keep your jaw bone healthy? Find out now in this blog from Del Mar Dental Studio. We’ll explain all the basics, and help you understand why Dr. Todd Pizzi always recommends dental implants to qualified patients.
Losing A Tooth Causes The Underlying Jaw Bone To Weaken Over Time
Whenever you chew or clench your teeth, you’re putting pressure on your teeth. This force is transferred through the roots of your teeth into your jaw bone. This constant force and pressure stimulates the bone, which means it will remain strong and dense.
But when you lose one or more teeth, this no longer happens. Even if you get a denture or a dental bridge, there won’t be any stimulation of the jaw bone underneath your missing tooth. So over time, it will deteriorate. This is a process called “bone resorption” and it happens to everyone.
Bone resorption happens fast, too. Within a year of losing a tooth, you could lose as much as 25% of the bone below your missing tooth. That’s why dentists like Dr. Pizzi recommend getting dental implants as soon as you can after you’ve lost a tooth.
Dental Implants Stimulate And Protect The Jaw Bone After Tooth Loss
A standard single-tooth dental implant consists of two main parts. There’s the implant itself, which is a piece of titanium that’s shaped like a screw. Then, there’s the crown, which is a porcelain false tooth that attaches to the implant.
When Dr. Pizzi places the implant screw into your mouth, he creates an opening in both the gums and jaw tissue. Then, over time, the jaw bone heals around the metal implant, permanently bonding with the implant and locking it in place. This is called “osseointegration.”
Once the implant has bonded with your jaw bone, it functions just like a normal tooth would. This means that it also transmits bite force into your jaw, just like the root of a natural tooth. This stimulates, strengthens, and protects the jaw bone, and completely prevents bone resorption after tooth loss.
Bone Grafting May Be An Option For Patients With Weakened Jaw Bones
So, what if you’ve already lost a tooth, and the jaw tissue in the area has weakened? You may still qualify for dental implants if you have a healthy mouth. A bone graft can be used to strengthen the area before Dr. Pizzi places an implant.
In this procedure, a dentist creates an opening in the gums and jaw, then packs bone powder or granules into the area. Over time, natural bone will grow and heal around the area, strengthening it sufficiently for an implant.
However, this does not mean you should wait to get an implant after losing a tooth. Not everyone qualifies for bone grafts. And compared to a dental implant without bone grafting, a bone graft adds significant costs, time, and a higher risk of complications to the procedure.
Interested In Dental Implants In Del Mar? Contact Del Mar Dental Studio Today!
Dr. Todd Pizzi specializes in implant dentistry in Del Mar. Whether you’ve recently lost a tooth, or you’re looking to replace a bridge or partial denture, our team is here to help. Contact us online or give us a call at (858) 755-0187 for an appointment with our team. At your consultation, Dr. Pizzi will examine your mouth, assess your oral health, and help you understand all of your options for tooth replacement, including dental implants.
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