Dental Implants And Bone Loss – The Most Frequently-Asked Questions

If you’re missing a tooth and you’re looking for replacement options in Wolcott and Bristol, you may have some questions about dental implants. Patients have a lot of questions about dental implants, and at Southington Dentistry we want you to have all the information you need to make the best decisions for your dental health.   Are dental implants a good way to prevent bone loss? When do you need to get an implant? Can you have an implant placed even if your jaw bone has deteriorated? We get a lot of questions as people weigh their options for replacement teeth. Here are a few frequently asked questions when it comes to dental implants and bone loss:

Do Dental Implants Help Preserve The Jaw Bone?

Yes! When you have a healthy tooth, the root supports and connects it to the gum and jawbone tissue. Your bone stays thick and healthy because it’s constantly being used to support your teeth. But if you lose a tooth, the opposite occurs. There is no longer any stimulation of the gum or jaw tissue, which causes the bone to weaken and dissolve, and also causes gum recession, in most cases. This can happen even if you’re missing only one tooth. Dental implants are the only restorative option that will preserve your jaw bone. Dental bridges and dentures do not connect to the jaw, and will not prevent bone loss or gum recession.

How Soon Does An Implant Have To Be Placed To Preserve Bone?

Dr. Salesky recommends that you have a dental implant placed as soon as possible after losing a tooth. This helps keep your jaw and gums healthy. As long as you get a dental implant within about 6 months of losing a tooth, you should be able to preserve your natural jaw and gum tissue. Waiting longer than this can result in permanent, irreversible damage to your jaw bone, so we encourage you to seek treatment from Southington Dentistry as soon as you can.

What If I’ve Already Lost Some Jaw Bone Tissue? Can I Still Have A Dental Implant?

Yes. As long as your mouth is healthy and free of major oral health issues, you can have a bone graft. A bone graft uses healthy bone from another source, which is implanted into your mouth, in order to provide a strong base for a dental implant. Best of all, once the dental implant has been placed, this bone will continue to remain strong, as it will be supporting the implant, which will keep it from shrinking and weakening.

Get Treatment For A Missing Tooth As Soon As You Can – Avoid Bone Loss And Damage!

Getting a dental implant shortly after losing a tooth is the best way to preserve your oral health. Without a dental implant, your gum and jaw tissue will begin to slowly deteriorate, even if you have a dental bridge or a partial denture. If you want a permanent solution for missing teeth that will help preserve your oral health, a dental implant from Dr. Salesky may be the right choice for you. Contact us today at (860) 628-5029 for an appointment. Or, if you’re in nearby Wolcott and Bristol, you can visit our office at 15 Cornerstone Court, #3A, Plantsville, Connecticut 06479 to schedule your appointment.