Today’s article focuses on bone health and missing teeth. Our teeth have many critical functions. We need them to chew our food, talk, and smile. But have you ever considered their role in holding up your face? When we lose teeth, the bone around the site of the extraction begins to loosen. This, in turn, causes our facial muscles to sink in.
Bone Metabolism
We sometimes think of bone as a solid mass, unlike the softer tissues in our body. In reality, below the seemingly rock-hard surface, bone tissue is full of small holes, kind of like a sponge. In the interior bone tissue, the bone is continuously regenerating itself. This crucial process is sometimes called “bone metabolism.” In the jaw bone, the movement of the teeth stimulates this process of rebuilding. When the tooth is gone, the bone starts to shrink as blood flow is reduced.
People with missing teeth not only have an unattractive gap in their smile, but they also begin to look older because of the bone recession and eventual facial sagging. It is not simply an issue of attractiveness—it poses serious health perils. It may become difficult to chew food, making it harder to get appropriate nutrition. Mental health can also be influenced when a patient with missing teeth loses confidence or withdraws from social situations because they are self-conscious about their smile.
Dental Implants Can Prevent Bone Recession
Dental implant technology provides a tooth restoration solution that maintains healthy bone metabolism while providing near-normal tooth function. For men and women missing many of their teeth, it may not be possible to replace every single tooth with a permanent dental implant. In many of these cases, dental implants can be used to provide an anchor for a partial denture. This procedure is routinely executed with success. If you are missing teeth in Cary, don’t resign yourself to dentures. Call us to learn more about your options.
Contact Cary Family Dental:
919-371-4428
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1149 Kildaire Farm Rd
Cary, North Carolina
27511915 Kildaire Farm Rd
Cary, North Carolina
27511
