Not everyone realizes that after losing one or more teeth, their risks of losing more increases significantly. This is due to many different factors; for instance, the empty space in your smile can cause other to shift, which can loosen your jawbone’s grip on their roots. Even if you fill that space, the loss of the roots within your jawbone can cause the bone structure to slowly erode, losing density due to the reduced stimulation every time you bite and chew. Fortunately, dental implants can help stop this erosion and prevent your jawbone from growing weaker by reestablishing that stimulation and offering more lifelike support for your dental prosthesis.

The Biology of Losing Teeth Roots

The roots of your teeth are the parts that you don’t see because they extend underneath your gum tissues. Each tooth root is held securely by periodontal ligaments within its own socket in your jawbone, and aside from supporting the tooth’s crown, it’s job is to stimulate your jaw so your body knows how many nutrients to send it. Losing a tooth root means your jawbone is no longer stimulated as much, and in response, your body sends it fewer nutrients. Gradually, this reduction in nutrients can cause your jawbone to lose mass and density, making it less able to properly support the teeth that still remain.

The Most Important Part of an Implant Restoration

Dental implants consist of three parts – a lifelike prosthesis (crown, bridge, or denture); one or a series of abutments; and one or more dental implant posts. The implant posts are the most notable because they are what stops your jawbone degradation by replacing your lost teeth roots. When biocompatible implant post is inserted into your jawbone, the bone fuses to it as though it were genuinely a part of your anatomy. The abutments are attached to the posts after your jawbone has healed so that your dentist can affix your prosthesis to the implants. Once completed, your restoration will help preserve your jawbone and reduce your risks of losing more teeth every time you bite and chew with it.

Invest in Your Smile’s Future with Dental Implants

With every tooth lost, your risks of losing more increases – unless you replace your lost teeth (and their roots) with one or more dental implants. For more information, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.