Our teeth have many important 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 pull back. This, in turn, causes our facial muscles to sink in and collapse. At Premier Dental & Oral Group in Lake Ozark, we can do something about that.
Bone Metabolism
We sometimes think of bone as a solid mass, unlike the softer tissues in our body. 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 consistently regenerating itself. This essential process is sometimes called “bone metabolism.” In the jaw bone, the movement of the teeth stimulates this process of rebuilding. When the tooth is gone, the bone starts to shrink as blood flow is reduced.
People with missing teeth not only have a 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 risks. It may become difficult to chew food, making it harder to get appropriate nutrition. Mental health can also be affected when a patient with missing teeth loses confidence or withdraws from social situations because they are embarrassed by 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 tooth implant. In many of these cases, dental implants can be used to provide an anchor for a partial denture.
What if your bone has shrunken so much that there is not enough to support a tooth implant? You may be a candidate for bone augmentation or bone grafting. This procedure is routinely completed with success.
If you are missing teeth, don’t resign yourself to dentures. At Premier Dental & Oral Group in Lake Ozark, we provide dental implants, as well as general dentistry. Call today to schedule a consultation.
Contact Premier Dental & Oral Health Group:
573-365-0220
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
24 North Shore Dr.
Lake Ozark, Missouri
65049
