These days, more people are retaining more of their natural teeth and beautiful smiles than ever before. Thanks to advancements in technology and a better understanding of oral health, tooth loss is significantly reduced. Of course, prevention is always the best treatment. However, even if you lose a tooth due to infection or traumatic injury, we can restore your smile and prevent subsequent tooth loss.
The Unseen Effects of Tooth Loss
Several restorative procedures can rectify a smile that has been rendered incomplete due to tooth loss. Dentures, for instance, are an attractive solution to restoring your beautiful smile. Replacement teeth also prevent remaining teeth from shifting to take up the slack. However, when a tooth is extracted or lost, the damage is more than esthetic. Your teeth are supported by your jaw, which provides nutrients to your teeth through the root canals that extend into the jawbone. Your jaw receives these nutrients from your body, which understands your jaw’s needs based on the teeth that require support. When a tooth is missing, the body registers the loss and decides that your jaw does not need as many nutrients because there are fewer teeth to support. Over time, the reduced flow of nutrients causes your jawbone to slowly deteriorate, which is the cause of facial collapse (the sunken-jaw look that affects some elderly people who have lost their teeth).
What About Dental Implants?
Unlike other replacement methods, dental implants mimic the entire structure of your natural tooth, including the root. An implant consists of a small rod or screw that is surgically inserted into your jawbone. The post is made of biocompatible titanium, so your jaw accepts it and fuses to its surface, effectively creating a metal tooth root that we can use to anchor your restoration (i.e., crown, denture, or bridge). Because your jawbone accepts the implanted root, your body does as well and continues to provide the nutrients your jaw requires to support it. A dental implant not only restores your missing tooth, but also helps prevent subsequent bone deterioration.
ABOUT YOUR SHREWSBURY DENTISTS:
At Modern Dentistry, Todd A. Pizzi, DDS, and Luciana Messina, DDS, are dedicated to providing high-quality cosmetic, restorative, and preventive dentistry services to patients and families in Shrewsbury, Worcester, North and South Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Boylston, Hopkinton, Millbury, and all surrounding communities. To schedule your next appointment, contact our office by calling (508) 842-6356 today.
