Today’s post focuses on bone health and missing teeth in Comstock Park. Our teeth have many important functions and we need them to chew our food, talk, and smile. But have you ever considered their role in holding up your face? When we lose teeth, the bone around the site of the extraction begins to shrink. This, in turn, causes our facial muscles to sink in.
Bone Metabolism
We sometimes think of bone as a solid mass, unlike the softer tissues in our body. In reality, below the seemingly rock-hard surface, bone tissue is full of small holes – kind of like a sponge. In the interior bone tissue, the bone is consistently regenerating itself. This important process is sometimes called “bone metabolism.” In the jaw bone, the movement of the teeth stimulates this process of rebuilding. When the tooth is gone, the bone starts to shrink as blood flow is reduced.
People with missing teeth not only have a gap in their smile, but they also begin to look older because of the bone recession and eventual facial sagging. It is not simply an issue of attractiveness – it also poses serious health dangers. It may become difficult to chew food, making it harder to get adequate nutrition. Mental health can also be affected when a patient with missing teeth loses confidence or withdraws from social situations because they are self-conscious about their smile.
Dental Implants Can Prevent Bone Recession
Dental implant technology provides a tooth restoration solution that maintains healthy bone metabolism while providing near-normal tooth function. For patients missing many or all of their teeth, it may not be possible to replace every single tooth with an implant. In many of these cases, dental implants can be used to provide an anchor for a partial denture. What if your bone has shrunk so much that there is not enough to support an implant? You may be a candidate for bone augmentation or bone grafting. This procedure is routinely carried out with success. If you are missing teeth, don’t resign yourself to dentures. Tooth implants can provide a brilliant smile! Schedule a consultation with Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry by calling 616-784-2377. Our practice also offers patients services such as teeth whitening, dental crowns, Invisalign orthodontics, and porcelain veneers.
Contact Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:
616-784-2377
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321
