After the extraction of natural teeth, a biological process known as resorption begins. Essentially, this means that because the jawbone is no longer being stimulated by the tooth roots, it starts to deteriorate. Your body recycles the bone for other purposes! While that is certainly efficient, it is not desirable, especially since resorption can change the shape of your face over time.
The good news is that replacing your missing teeth can help to prevent bone loss in the jaw. But which tooth replacement option is best? In this blog post, we explain how dentures compare to dental implants.
Dentures and Bone Loss
Unfortunately, traditional dentures do not help to prevent bone loss in the jaw. While they can restore a degree of chewing power, they do not provide the necessary stimulation to keep the jawbone strong and whole. If you wear dentures, you can expect your jawbone to gradually change shape over time as it slowly deteriorates.
Even more concerning is the fact that dentures place a lot of pressure on the gum tissue, meaning that they can actually accelerate bone loss.
You may be able to minimize this issue by not wearing your dentures at night, but good habits will not solve the problem.
Dental Implants Prevent Bone Loss
The good news is that, while traditional dentures cannot prevent bone loss, dental implants can. That is because dental implants are inserted into the jawbone; they act as prosthetic tooth roots! The jawbone actually fuses with them, allowing them to provide a strong base of support for implant dentures.
Implants stimulate the jawbone enough to slow down and even prevent resorption of the bone. In some cases, they have even been shown to reverse deterioration of the jawbone. They also provide an incredibly strong bite force that is almost equal to that of natural teeth.
What to Know About Dental Implants for Jawbone Health
Here are a few things to keep in mind if you are interested in getting dental implants to preserve your jawbone:
- In order to get dental implants, your jawbone needs to be relatively strong and healthy. If it is not, you might need a bone graft.
- The dental implant process can take several months or longer, so patience is necessary!
- Even though dental implants cost more than traditional dentures, they last a lot longer, so they are an excellent monetary value.
When it comes to preventing bone loss, dental implants are clearly superior to traditional dentures! Talk to your dentist to learn more about both of these tooth replacement options.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Karl Anderson is an accomplished dentist who serves the Rapid City, SD, community. He and our team use advanced technology to provide top-quality dental implant treatment. If you are ready to replace your missing teeth, we would be pleased to speak with you about your treatment options. To ask questions or request an appointment, we invite you to contact our office at 605-721-1219.