How Implants Prevent Bone Loss
West Linn, OR
 Tooth loss is not just an oral health issue or a minor inconvenience. Missing teeth can eventually have an impact on the nearby tissues, especially your jawbone.
Tooth roots naturally stimulate the jawbone, and continued chewing action helps maintain jawbone strength. When the tooth roots are no longer present, the ridge of the bone near the roots, known as the alveolar bone, stops being used to its optimal capacity and the body starts to reabsorb it.
Types of Dental Implants
There are three main types of dental implants available.
Endosteal Implants
Endosteal are the most popular type of dental implants and are often used as a substitute to a bridge or removable denture. These implants are either cylinder (smooth), screw (threaded), or bladed.
To place one, your dentist will drill into the jawbone and insert an artificial tooth root made of titanium. Therefore, the procedure requires good jawbone health and density. Endosteal implants are known for being durable and natural-feeling.
Subperiosteal Implants
Subperiosteal implants are opted for when you lack the amount of jawbone required for an endosteal implant. They stay on top of the bone but underneath the gums.
These implants essentially consist of a metal frame that is surgically implanted atop the jawbone just beneath the gum tissue. Metal posts are positioned in a way that they emerge through the gums. The replacement teeth are then attached to these posts.
Zygomatic Implants
These are not a very common type of dental implants. Placing a zygomatic implant involves a complicated procedure and should only be resorted to if you do not have adequate jawbone required for an endosteal implant.
These implants are surgically inserted into the cheekbone instead of the jawbone. This bone is much denser as compared to the maxillary bone, and offers a strong anchor point for the implants. Like conventional implants, zygomatic implants also have a high success rate.
How Implants Prevent Bone Loss
Bone loss is one of the biggest risks associated with tooth loss. Not only does this make it hard to retain your remaining teeth, but can also alter the entire structure of your face.
Having missing teeth replaced with dental implants can ward off bone loss, enabling your jaw to maintain its original look and shape. When implants are placed into your jawbone, they bond with it and stabilize both the bone and the neighboring teeth.
Implants provide the necessary stress and stimulation to the jawbone in order to maintain it. This is a distinguishing function of a dental implant as a simple crown or dental bridge would be inadequate to achieve this. An implant keeps your jaw healthy and preserves the structure of your entire set of teeth.
Anesthetics are used before performing a dental implant surgery, making it a painless process. If you have a tooth or two missing, an implant may be just what you need. Schedule an appointment with us at ZenTech Dentistry by giving us a call at (503) 765-9699 today.
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