How Implants Prevent Bone Loss
Wausau, WI
 Tooth loss not only makes it hard for you to chew and speak properly, but can eventually result in jawbone loss. This can cause the rest of the teeth to move from their original positions and even change your facial appearance by making it appear more sunken in.
Dental implants act as tooth roots that are surgically inserted into the jawbone to replace lost teeth. Dental crowns are later attached atop implants, so that your original tooth can be successfully replaced.
Types of Dental Implants
There are three different kinds of dental implants that you can select. Here is a brief overview:
Endosteal Implants
These are the most common type of dental implants and are most suitable for people who have a strong jawbone intact to support the implant. Endosteal implants appear like screws and are placed into the jawbone of the missing tooth socket.
Once the dental implant surgery is performed, it takes a while for the implant to bond with the jawbone. After the area of surgery is healed, the new tooth is attached to the post and made to align with the surrounding teeth.
Subperiosteal Implants
These are a prime alternative to endosteal implants. Rather than being attached to the jawbone, these implants are placed on top of it. Nevertheless, they are still positioned beneath the gum.
The procedure entails fixing a metal frame underneath the gum with a post attached to it. The gum slowly restores near the frame to hold it in place. The new replacement teeth are fixed to the poles that emerge from the gum.
This kind of implant is preferable if you have inadequate jawbone for an endosteal implant, or if you do not prefer going through an intrusive bone graft surgery to add bone to the area.
Zygomatic Implants
Zygomatic implants are the least popular among the three kinds of dental implants. This procedure is complex and should only be chosen if you do not have the amount of jawbone needed for an endosteal implant.
These dental implants are positioned inside the cheekbone instead of the jawbone. Zygomatic implants are less intrusive than grafting procedures and do not involve as many visits to the dentist.
How Implants Prevent Bone Loss
When muscles are not used for a long time period, they tend to atrophy. For instance, astronauts lose some bone density after they spend considerable time in a zero-gravity environment.
The job of tooth roots is to stimulate the jawbone, which is done when teeth exert continuous pressure during chewing. When you lose a tooth, the alveolar bone starts to deteriorate. As this part of the body is no longer being used after tooth loss, the bone gets reabsorbed so that it can be used in a different manner.
Dental implants replace the entire structure of a tooth, including both the root and the crown. After implants fuse into the jawbone, they act just like natural tooth roots and stimulate the nearby tissue to help it remain thick and strong.
If you have a tooth or two missing, now is the time to consult an experienced dentist. Schedule an appointment with us at Wanserski Dental Center for Complex Dentistry by giving us a call at (715) 848-2435 today.
|
