There are several options that dentists offer to replace missing teeth, but not all of them may be good options for you. Particularly, if you’ve experienced jawbone loss due to living with missing teeth for some time, you may not be a good candidate for dental implants. Fortunately, there are other options out there that may be perfect for you, like traditional dentures. Read on to learn more about how bone loss occurs and the tooth replacement options available for you if you’re lacking jawbone density.
What Causes Jawbone Loss?
The roots of your teeth are embedded within your jawbone, providing blood flow and stimulation to the bone and nerves within not just your tooth, but also the bone itself. When one or more teeth need to be extracted, get knocked-out, or otherwise go missing, their roots will no longer be stimulating the bone. As time passes, the bone will deteriorate because the body will be sending nutrients and blood to other areas of the body that are functional and need it more. This can lead to bone loss and even change the look of your face.
How Does Bone Loss Impact Your Ability to Replace Teeth?
When the jawbone isn’t dense or thick enough, it may not be able to support dentures or dental implants. This is because the dentures need enough of a foundation to securely sit atop the gumline and dental implants must fuse with the jawbone to be functional. Whenever bone is lacking, it can lead to unstable restorations that can shift or move within the mouth.
At your initial consultation with your dentist in Cleburne, they will let you know whether you require a bone graft in order to replace your missing teeth. This will help improve the density of your bone by applying a graft taken from a different area of your body or a donor graft to the area in need of it.
What Tooth Replacement Options are Best for Patients with Bone Loss?
If you suffer from bone loss and you’re missing an entire row of teeth, your best option to restore your smile may be a traditional denture. However, if you’re willing to undergo surgery for more stable results that look and feel natural, an implant denture may be in the cards for you.
One unique benefit that implant dentures offer that traditional dentures don’t is that they prevent further jawbone erosion. This is because the dental implants fuse with the bone like the natural teeth once were, providing the area with necessary blood flow and stimulation.
If you would like to restore your smile but you aren’t sure what option will be best for you, schedule a consultation with your dentist. They’ll take X-rays of your mouth and conduct a thorough exam, allowing them to draw up a treatment plan for you and allow you to choose between the options that you’re a good candidate for, like dentures and dental implants.
About the Practice
At Long Family Dental of Cleburne, we utilize the latest, cutting-edge technology to make sure that our patients receive stunning replacement teeth that let them feel confident in their new smiles. In addition to placing and restoring dental implants in-house, we also offer traditional full and partial dentures so patients can choose the solution that will work best for them. For questions or to schedule a consultation, visit our website or call 817-645-2437.