This article from Redbud Dental in Edmond focuses on missing teeth and bone health.
Teeth have many critical functions. We need them to chew our food, talk, and smile. But have you ever considered their role in holding up your face? When we lose teeth, the bone around the site of the extraction begins to recede. This, in turn, causes our facial muscles to sink in and collapse.
Bone Metabolism
We sometimes think of bone as a solid mass. In reality, below the seemingly rock-hard surface, bone tissue is full of small holes, kind of like a sponge. In the interior bone tissue, the bone is continually regenerating itself. This indispensable process is sometimes called “bone metabolism.” In the jaw bone, the movement of the teeth stimulates this process of regeneration. When the tooth is gone, the bone starts to shrink as blood flow is reduced.
People with missing teeth not only have an unattractive gap in their smile, they begin to look older because of the bone recession and eventual facial sagging. It is not simply an issue of attractiveness—it poses serious health hazards. It may become difficult to chew food, making it harder to get proper nutrition. Mental health can also be impacted when a patient with missing teeth loses confidence or withdraws from social situations because they are uncomfortable with their smile.
Dental Implants Can Prevent Bone Recession
Modern dentistry to the rescue! Dental implant technology provides a tooth restoration solution that retains healthy bone metabolism while providing near-normal tooth function. For individuals missing many (or all) of their teeth, it may not be possible to replace every single tooth with a permanent dental implant. In many of these cases, dental implants can be used to provide an anchor for a partial denture.
What if your bone has shrunk so much that there is not enough to support a dental implant? You may be a candidate for bone augmentation or bone grafting. This procedure is routinely completed with success.
Dental implants from Redbud Dental in Edmond restore your smile. We also offer family dentistry services. Schedule an appointment today!
Contact Redbud Dental:
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Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
18001 N. Western Ave. Ste. 106
Edmond, Oklahoma
73012