What Is Bone resorption And Why Does It Occur After Tooth Loss?
One of the biggest problems for anyone undergoing dental implants in Richmond is bone resorption, but why does it occur and why is it problematic for the implantation process? Let’s take a closer look.
In order for any type of bone to maintain its form and density it needs stimulation. In the case of the bone tissue that surrounds and supports the teeth (the alveolar bone) this stimulation comes from the tooth root. When the tooth is lost the lack of stimulation causes the surrounding bone to waste away. This is known as bone resorption. It’s generally understood that people experience a 25% loss of bone width during the first year and an overall decrease in height over the next few years after that.
In essence the more teeth that are lost the more the alveolar bone starts to diminish. This can lead to some serious aesthetic and functional problems. This is true particularly in people who have lost most or all of their teeth. However it doesn’t stop there. After the alveolar bone is lost the bone beneath it, the jaw bone (otherwise known as the Basel bone), also starts to melt away.
So why does bone loss affect a dental implant?
Simply because the implantation process requires both healthy and most importantly, plentiful bone mass to secure the implant into. If this is minimal or non-existent, then the implant would fail.
So what can be done?
Basically two things. Firstly if you’ve recently experienced tooth loss then speed is of the essence. The earlier you can have an implant fitted, the less chance of bone loss, meaning a better chance of implant success. Secondly if your tooth/teeth have been missing for some time and you would like to go ahead with the implantation process, then you might need to undergo bone graft treatment. This is a common procedure that’s usually carried out at the dental clinic. Tiny fragments of bone tissue taken from a bone bank, synthetic bone, or occasionally from elsewhere on your body are carefully grafted into the sockets of the missing teeth. Over time this should fuse with the remaining bone to create a denser wider bone mass upon which to secure the implant into.
But that’s not all….
Once a dental implant is firmly anchored in place the titanium root mimics the natural tooth root and as such the remaining bone tissue is re-stimulated as it fuses with the implant. For this reason the bone loss process is finally halted, thus preserving your jaw bone. What’s more other forms of tooth replacement such as conventional dentures and crowns don’t have this functionality. As such the bone continues to waste away. Hence the reason why dentures need to be continually adjusted and eventually replaced.
If you want to find out more about what you can do to prevent bone resorption after tooth loss then come and speak to Sheen Dental about dental implants in Richmond. Remember the quicker you make a dental decision the less hassle, and indeed the less costly, the implant process will be. To book yourself a free consultation either visit our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk or alternatively contact us directly on 020 8876 5277 today and take the first steps to restoring your great looking smile.