Dental implants can go a very long way to improving a person’s life if they have been influenced by tooth loss. We know that tooth loss is often almost inevitable, even as we make every effort to minimize the chances of our patients losing a tooth. The challenge with tooth loss is that it comes with its own unique set of challenges that can cause a person to have a serious loss to their quality of life. For example, when you lose a tooth you may not be able to eat all the foods you like which can then impact your diet. For some people, it is the ability to have a full and beautiful smile because they are conscious of their missing teeth. It is for these reasons, which are just a small sampling, that replacing teeth has been one of the major goals of dentistry since its inception centuries ago. Today dental implants are the most innovative and effective tooth replacement option available.
Having dental implants comes with another inherent benefit that is rarely spoken about, because very few people realize its importance. Through a process known as osseointegration, the dental implants you have will literally become part of your mouth in every way. Titanium, from which the dental implants are made, can completely biosynthesize with the organic tissue in your mouth. What this means is that the tiny metal screw, the implant in your jawbone, tricks your mouth into believing that it is actually organic matter and must have the same level of support offered to other parts of the body. This bodes well for the implant and also helps maintain the basic functions of the jawbone itself. From a stability standpoint, having a prosthetic device that is completely integrated with the organics of your body is a complete win, and when the device actually helps sustain the organic matter it is an amazing feat.
The jawbone has two basic functions. The first is to support the teeth, and, in essence, support the first step in the digestive process. As long as the teeth are in place they continue to provide stimulation to the jawbone, which in turn gets the minerals it needs from the body to stay healthy. Once you start losing teeth, however, the stimulus wanes and the body gets the signal that the jawbone may have outlived its functionality. As a direct result of this the body will start the process of resorption, or absorbing back the jawbone. To do this, it will start to leach important minerals like calcium from the bone and reallocate it to other bones, which the body considers more mission critical. For you this can be devastating.
The second function of the jaw bone is to maintain the integrity of the facial structure. As long as the bone is not deteriorating or being resorbed, it holds the face in place. Once it starts to deteriorate, however, the jawbone is no longer able to provide the support your face needs which can lead to things like your posterior bite collapsing. The good news is that a dental implant creates the stimulation the body needs to continue supplying the jawbone with its vital nutrients and minerals. For this reason, dental implants are a superior tooth replacement option to that of dentures or a dental bridge.
