Procedures

• Dental Implants
• Bone Grafting
  • About Bone Grafting
  • Jawbone Health
  • Ridge Augmentation
  • Ridge Preservation
  • Sinus Lift
• Wisdom Teeth
• Facial Trauma
• Jaw Surgery
• Pre-prosthetic Surgery
• Distraction Osteogenesis
• Oral Pathology
• TMJ Disorders
• Sleep Apnea
• Cleft Lip & Palate
• Platelet Rich Plasma
• Impacted Cuspids

The Importance of Teeth for Jaw Bone Health

One or more missing teeth can lead to jawbone loss at the site of the gap. This can develop into additional problems, both with your appearance and overall health. You may experience pain, problems with your remaining teeth, an altered facial appearance, and eventually even the inability to speak and eat normally.

In the same way that muscles are maintained through exercise, bone tissue is maintained through use. Natural teeth are embedded in the jaws and stimulate the bone through activities such as chewing and biting. When teeth are missing, the alveolar bone (the portion that anchors the teeth in the mouth) no longer receives necessary stimulation and begins to break down, or resorb. The body no longer uses or “needs” the bone in these areas, so it deteriorates and goes away.

Potential Consequences of Tooth and Bone Loss

• Problems with remaining teeth, including misalignment, drifting, loosening and loss
• Collapsed facial profile
• Limited lip support
• Skin wrinkling around the mouth
• Distortion of other facial features
• Jaw or TMJ pain, facial pain, and headaches
• Difficulty speaking and communicating
• Inadequate nutrition as a result of the inability to chew properly and painlessly
• Sinus expansion