When you lose a tooth or multiple teeth, you may experience different dental problems. There’s the issue of aesthetics, which is obvious, but there are also issues with function and bite strength to keep in mind. That may be why dental implants have been growing in popularity for people looking to replace missing teeth. They are strong, stable, and even prevent various oral health problems from occurring. A Scottsdale oral surgeon can discuss all these issues with you in greater detail, though we’d like to look at the basics of tooth loss, dental implants, and bone grafting right now.
About Tooth Loss
When you lose a tooth, a gap is left behind. Both the gum tissue and the jaw bone are no longer supporting a tooth/tooth root in the area of the gap. As a result, it’s common for the gums in that area to recede and the jawbone to lose density. This can be quite pronounced over time, resulting in problems with the teeth adjacent to the tooth gap. It’s important that you visit our oral surgery and facial surgery center in Scottsdale should you be missing a tooth so such matters can be addressed in a timely fashion.
Why Dental Implants are Ideal for Missing Teeth
Not only do Scottsdale dental implants provide the most secure hold of dental bridges and dentures, the dental implants prevent gum loss and bone loss in the area of the tooth gap. You see, dental implants are artificial tooth roots, meaning that surgically placing them prevents loss of hard and soft tissue in the area of the tooth gap.
Addressing the Issue of Bone Density
If the gums and the bone have receded in the area of the tooth gap, it will be very hard to support a dental implant. We can take preventative measures if we extract a tooth at our practice, preserving the socket with a special bone graft. For people already experiencing such issues, the solution is a bone graft surgery. This will rebuild the bone density so it can support a dental implant.
What Happens During Bone Grafting Surgery
During bone grafting surgery, bone from one part of the body is used to bolster and rebuild bone in another part of the body. In the case of oral bone grafting, the donor bone is usually taken from the patient’s mouth. This donor bone fuses with the recessed jawbone, creating a dense and sturdy foundation/restoration of hard tissue.
Common areas where donor bone is extracted include the wisdom tooth area, the chin, and the inside of the mouth from the lower jaw. If a patient requires more substantial donor bone, surgeons can take bone from the patient’s hip or even from the patient’s tibia (the lower leg/shin).
Other Ways of Preparing Patients for Dental Implants
We mentioned that gum tissue is also important for supporting dental implants, which is why we also offer soft tissue grafting to rebuild the gums. We can discuss all these matters with you in greater detail during your visit to our practice.
Learn More About Oral Surgery and Facial Plastic Surgery
For more information about oral surgery options as well as facial plastic surgery procedures such as facelift and rhinoplasty, we encourage you to contact our Scottsdale office today. Our entire team is here for you and looks forward to discussing all of your health and cosmetic goals in greater detail.
