If you have lost one or more teeth and are considering your options for replacing your teeth and restoring your smile, dental implants should be your top choice. Not only do implants have a 30+ year lifespan (which is longer than any other restorative treatment), but they also help stimulate and preserve your jaw bone. Alternative treatments like dental bridges and partial dentures don’t do this, so your jaw may continue to weaken after tooth loss. 

If you’re located in Wauwatosa and want to learn if implants may be right for you, contact McCue Dental Health today!

Why Does Bone Resorption Occur After I Lose a Tooth?

Your jaw bone, just like any other bone or tissue in your body, requires stimulation to stay healthy and strong. If you don’t use a muscle, it will deteriorate. The same is true of your jaw bone. When your teeth are healthy, the roots transmit the force of chewing and biting into your jaw bone. This stimulates the bone and keeps it healthy.

But once you lose a tooth, the root is gone. There is no longer any way for the pressure and force of everyday activities to be transmitted into your jaw bone. In turn, this causes jaw bone resorption. The bone will slowly weaken and deteriorate. If you do not get a dental implant, you may lose up to 25% of the jaw bone mass in the affected area within 1 year of losing your tooth. 

How Does a Dental Implant Help With Bone Loss?

Dental implants help with bone loss because they function as an artificial root. A dental implant is surgically placed into your gum and jaw bone. Then, once it has healed, it transmits the force of everyday chewing, smiling, and biting into your jaw bone. This prevents the bone from deteriorating further, and can actually strengthen it.

If you get a dental implant, you will not have to worry about bone loss, which can weaken your jaw and cause changes in your facial appearance. Your implant will stimulate your jaw bone just like a natural tooth, preventing bone resorption. 

Osseointegration – The Key to a Strong, Long-Lasting Restoration

A process called “osseointegration” is the key to both the long lifespan of dental implants, and their unique ability to strengthen and preserve the jaw bone. Osseointegration refers to the process by which a dental implant bond permanently with the surrounding bone, effectively becoming a natural part of your mouth.

This is why titanium is used for dental implants. It has the unique ability to bond and fuse permanently with your natural bone tissue as it heals. Once the process of osseointegration is complete (which usually takes 3-6 months after implant placement) the implant will be permanently attached to your jaw bone. 

Get the Help You Need in Wauwatosa!

At McCue Dental Health, Dr. McCue can replace missing teeth and provide you with an attractive restoration. If you want a long-lasting solution for missing teeth that will help keep your jaw healthy, implants are the best choice. To find out if they’re right for you, just contact us at (414) 456-1091, or feel free to stop by our office at 10625 West North Avenue, Suite 300, Wauwatosa, WI 53226. We hope to see you soon!