Dental implants are one of the tooth replacement methods you should consider if you have lost one or more of your natural teeth. Implants do not directly replace lost teeth; they serve as artificial tooth roots that replace the roots of lost teeth. Restorations like crowns, dentures, and bridges can then be attached to the implants, replacing any lost teeth.

How dental implants preserve bone tissues in the jaw

Losing natural teeth can lead to changes in the mouth, like bone tissues breaking down or the remaining teeth moving out of their proper alignment in an attempt to close the gap. Implants become one with the patient’s bone tissues, making them as stable as real tooth roots. Bite forces are transferred through the implants into the jaw when chewing, giving the tissues there the stimulation they need to stay healthy.

Just as is the case with muscle tissues, bone tissues need regular stimulation to remain healthy. These bone tissues go through a process called resorption when they are no longer stimulated, leading to changes to a person’s facial structures like wrinkles forming around their mouth and a sunken look.

Implants are the only tooth replacement option that prevents bone tissues in the jaw from breaking down. Other tooth replacement options like dentures and bridges simply replace the visible part of the tooth. This is enough to prevent the remaining teeth from moving out of their proper alignment, but it does nothing to stop the breakdown of bone tissues. Fortunately, implants can be combined with other tooth replacement options like dentures and bridges, providing a bone-preserving option for patients who have missing teeth.

Eligibility for dental implants

The installation of dental implants requires minor oral surgery, so patients should be healthy enough to recover. The dentist will go over the patient’s medical and dental history when determining their eligibility for implants. Health issues like immune system disorders and diabetes can make the recovery process more complicated. The same goes for some medications like blood thinners. Habits like smoking and drinking can also slow down the recovery process.

Implants are inserted directly into the patient’s jawbone, and they are held in place by the bone tissues around them. That means the patient’s jaw needs to be thick enough to hold the implant in place. Patients who have used other tooth replacement options like dentures might have lost considerable amounts of bone tissues in their jaw. Such patients would have to thicken their jaw with bone grafts to be eligible for implants. It takes about three months to recover from bone grafts, and patients have to be fully healed from their grafts before getting implants.

Ready to explore dental implants?

Dental implants feel and look natural, and they help to keep bone tissues in your jaw healthy. Unlike other tooth replacement options, like dentures, that come with tiresome cleaning requirements, implants do not require any special care.

Contact our dental clinic to learn more about dental implants if you have missing teeth.

Request an appointment here: https://hulensmiles.com or call Hulen Smiles, Implant and Cosmetic Dentist at (817) 585-4159 for an appointment in our Fort Worth office.