How Dental Implants Prevent Bone Loss
Portland, OR
 It is unfortunate and happens to the best of us, but sometimes life throws us a curveball that causes us to lose a permanent tooth. Maybe it is just out of sight, so it does not immediately affect your bite or your smile, but regardless of where it is located, the truth is that if the bone surrounding your teeth realizes there is a missing piece, it will not likely continue supplying regeneration to that part of your jaw. When this happens, the cells can begin to resorb and cause deep pitting in the bone, which can weaken the surrounding tissues. Through the use of implants, Malmquist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery can help with the process that can strengthen your dental core.
What Are They Used For?
For many, implants seem to be a way to boost their confidence and generally consider the process to be cosmetic. For others, due to extensive loss, they are no longer capable of enjoying the nutritious foods that once fueled their bodies and often may develop nutritional deficiencies. If properly taken care of, it is possible that the replacement structure can become permanent, which means yielding excellent results that could remain beneficial for a lifetime.
How To Rebuild Your Jaw
If a tooth is extracted in the office, then it is standard procedure to immediately begin packing the empty hole with protein-enriched grafting material to encourage regrowth. Preventing recession of any additional bone is a priority. After x-rays, it is determined the extent of degeneration, and then a treatment plan is considered. If multiple teeth are missing and have been for some time, it may require extensive repair to reestablish alignment, but rest assured it can very likely be done. Surgery is best done as soon as possible after the tooth has been removed to prevent continued loss.
There are several types of material that can be used to replace the tissues that are lost. It can be safely extracted from a source on your body, such as your chin. Another option in the human cell donation is that it can come from either another living resource or cadaver extraction. Animal specimens have worked effectively as well (such as bovine), and even synthetic materials manufactured in the laboratory have been used for supplying the necessary cells for improving regeneration. These layers are placed directly on affected areas to create a functional scaffolding in the new base of your jaw, called bone grafting.
When the bone has completely integrated with the donor material, there should be a firm foundation which can then be used for the rebuilding process. Holes are drilled into the jaw where the original sockets used to be and a titanium bolt then replaces the root, which can then bond physically with the structure of our cells and create a resilient threshold. Once it has healed enough, then a connective abutment can be applied and finally, the artificial crown that becomes your new tooth is secured. The result is a fresh new start with a replacement that looks, works, and feels like the real thing.
For any questions, you may have regarding bone grafting, or to discover if dental implants might be right for you, please call us here at Malmquist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at .
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