Dental implants are the most advanced long-term treatment for missing or compromised teeth. They can be used to replace just one or two teeth or entire arches of teeth as part of a complete smile makeover. But before we can place your implants, we need to ensure your jawbone is healthy and strong.
The jawbone plays an important part in dental health, whether you have natural teeth or dental restorations. Just like the jawbone provides support for natural teeth, sufficient jawbone volume and density are necessary to support dental implants. But even if you’re suffering from jawbone loss, our Smart Arches dental implant experts can treat you.
Learn about the importance of bone health in the success of dental implants and how our experts can help improve your jawbone health so you can enjoy the benefits of a brand new smile!
Why the jawbone is important for dental health
The jawbone is a critical element of oral health and functioning. Smooth movement of the jaw and its connected structures are important for daily activities like chewing and talking. Because our facial muscles and bones work together every day, it’s no surprise that the state of our jaws can impact our oral health in significant ways.
The jawbone is the primary support for our teeth. When our jawbones are strong and sufficiently dense, it gives teeth the structure they need to stay healthy. On the other hand, when the jawbone deteriorates or sustains damage, it can lead to a host of dental health complications, including:
- Gum disease
- Tooth loss
- Tooth decay
- TMJ disorders
- Affected speech
- Difficulty chewing
How missing teeth impact the jawbone
Just as the jawbone influences dental health, the condition of our teeth impacts our jawbones as well. Our teeth provide essential stimulation to the jawbone through talking, chewing, and biting down.
This stimulation allows our bone tissue to constantly regenerate and repair itself. When we have missing teeth, the corresponding areas of the jawbone no longer receive that stimulation. This causes the bone to weaken over time.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are the premier treatment for missing and damaged teeth. Dental implants are small posts that look much like a screw. During a dental implant procedure, these posts are surgically embedded into the jawbone to set the stage for a tooth restoration such as a crown or bridge.
Implants look natural, are easy to care for, last for decades, and provide the same jawbone stimulation as a natural tooth root.
The role of the jawbone in dental implant procedures
Just like with real teeth, your jawbone plays an important role in the long-term health of your dental implant and vice versa. In order to ensure a successful dental implant surgery, a healthy jawbone is vital.
Why jawbone health is essential
During recovery, implants go through a process called osseointegration. In other words, they actually fuse with the jawbone over time. This is because dental implants are made with biocompatible materials like titanium.
The jawbone has to have sufficient density in order to support and properly stabilize the implant. If your jawbone lacks adequate density, certain preliminary procedures need to be performed in order to prepare the bone for implant surgery.
How bone grafting can help
Bone grafting can enable people with jawbone loss or depletion, who may otherwise not be candidates for dental implants, to get treatment and restore their smiles. Although bone grafting isn’t necessary in many cases, it can significantly improve the likelihood of success in patients who lack sufficient bone density and volume to support implants.
The process involves numbing the area with a local anesthetic before making a small incision in the gumline and adding bone grafting material. Once we’ve placed the bone graft, we’ll cover it with a protective membrane and close up the incision with stitches. Then, we’ll wait until the area has completely healed and proceed with placing your dental implants!
Get comprehensive dental implant treatment with Smart Arches!
If you’re in need of dental implant treatment but you don’t have adequate bone density, don’t give up. Our dental implant specialists at Smart Arches can offer you advanced bone grafting treatment to strengthen your jawbone and set the stage for a successful implant.
Ready to start the process and get closer to the healthy, beautiful smile you deserve? Schedule a FREE consultation today to speak with our experts. We can’t wait to meet you!
