Tooth loss is traumatic enough. And it makes sense to ask about your options. Dental implants are a premiere solution for tooth replacement. Even so, there are a number of factors affecting your decision and one in particular makes implant treatment a priority.

Tooth loss generally makes you a candidate for dental implants. That said, be aware of how your health history is a factor.

• Uncontrolled diabetes

• Cancer

• Smoking

• Alcoholism

• Uncontrolled periodontal (gum) disease

These can determine whether dental implants are right for you. And here’s the reason…

Your health and medical history can affect whether dental implants will fuse to your jaw bone. Implant treatment stops bone loss. But it also requires healthy bone tissue to be effective.

Tooth loss is traumatic not only to your appearance – it’s traumatic to your bone.Teeth stimulate and promote healthy bone tissue. The more teeth you lose the more healthy function you will lose. In the first year after tooth loss, 25% of your bone width will decrease. When you begin to lose sub-level bone tissue – the jawbone itself begins to resorb (melt away)!

Reverse the damage from losing teeth.

Bone grafts can be placed into the sockets where your tooth is missing. This helps preserve the bone mass or volume needed for replacing your tooth/teeth with dental implants.

Remember the bone in your jaw needs stimulation to be healthy. Dental implants fuse to the bone  stabilizing it and preventing further bone loss.

It’s normal for your bone to deteriorate when there’s no longer a tooth supporting or connecting to it. Dental implants stop this from happening and preserve your bone.

It’s true that dental implant treatment improves your appearance. It’s also the primary treatment option for maintaining a healthy jawbone when tooth loss occurs.

How does understanding bone loss impact your opinion about dental implant treatment?