The Importance of Teeth for Jaw Bone Health
One or more missing teethcan lead to jawbone loss at the site of the gap. Thiscan developinto additional problems, both with your appearance andoverall 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 throughuse. Natural teeth are embedded in the jaws and stimulate the bone throughactivities such as chewing and biting. When teeth are missing, the alveolar bone(the portionthat anchors the teeth in the mouth) no longer receives necessarystimulation 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 BoneLoss
- 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
- Jawor TMJpain, facial pain, and headaches
- Difficulty speaking and communicating
- Inadequate nutrition as a result of the inability to chew properly and painlessly
- Sinus expansion