Dental Resorption – What exactly is it and why does it occur?
If you’re considering dental implants in Richmond and you have long been missing teeth or happen to be a long term denture wearer, then there’s a good chance that you might suffer with dental resorption. Although this can be problematic for dental implants, there are steps that dentists can take to make sure that your implants stand the best chance of longevity. But what exactly is dental resorption and why does it occur?
Dental resorption is a natural process that occurs as soon as teeth are missing and is in effect a wasting away of the surrounding bone tissue that once supported the tooth root. This happens quite rapidly at first but eventually slows down after a period of time. If you imagine the bone tissue to be like a muscle it needs constant stimulation. The tooth root used to provide exactly this. However just like any muscle in our body if it’s not used it starts to wither. Therefore when the tooth and of course the tooth root is no longer there, the bone tissue starts to shrink and this is what causes the gums to thin and recede. Eventually it can undermine otherwise healthy teeth.
So how does this effect dental implants?
In order for dental implants to survive and indeed thrive, they need to be anchored into healthy and plentiful bone. The reason for this is that they need healthy bone tissue which fuses with the titanium-based implant. This is what creates that super-strong platform. When this isn’t there (in the case of bone resorption) then the chances of the dental implant becoming loose or falling out completely are significantly increased.
So what can be done?
Firstly the good news is that unlike any other form of tooth replacement such as dentures, when you undergo a dental implant in Richmond, it will actually halt dental resorption altogether. This is because the titanium implant mimics the tooth root, causing re-stimulation of the bone tissue. However in the meantime the implant still needs sufficient tissue to be anchored into. For this reason a bone graft procedure is carried out.
A bone graft is a common procedure carried out within the confines of the dental implant clinic and is where bone tissue is taken from either a bone bank, or synthetic tissue is used. It’s then placed onto the affected area and over a period of weeks it grows and increases the density of the bone tissue, so that it can support the implant once it’s placed.
As you can see, even if you have gum/bone shrinkage caused by dental absorption you should still be eligible to undergo dental implants in Richmond. Although be prepared for a lengthier treatment time with longer recovery.
To find out more, why not visit our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk where you’ll find a wealth of information to help. Alternatively you can also contact us directly on 020 8876 5277 and book yourself a free consultation with Dr Harmit Kalsi and the team. Here you can get all your questions and concerns answered, allowing you to make a fully informed dental decision.