By Teeth Video 
Patients who need dental implants may have lost some bone mass in their jaws. When that happens, adding bone for dental implants may quickly become necessary. Before adding bone to jaw for implants, the original damaged teeth have to be extracted. The new teeth implants need enough structural support, and adding bone to gums can make that happen.
Dental professionals will generally take bone material from other parts of the patient’s skeleton for this procedure. After adding bone to teeth, people will still have to wait for the bone graft to finish healing before anyone can put the dental implants into place. Still, once both parts of the process have been finished, dental experts will potentially help patients solve multiple oral health problems at once.
A new dental implant can protect the rest of someone’s teeth. Having a stronger jaw can be just as helpful. Gaps in a patient’s mouth can slowly change the alignment of the remaining teeth after enough time passes. People might find that it’s easier to chew their food after they get these operations. They’ll simultaneously prevent dental problems and address the ones that they already have, making bone augmentation a cost-effective and efficient option.
Studies continue to show that practically everyone is going to lose one or more teeth in their lifetime. While tooth loss is an aesthetic issue for many, it is important to realize that it can also be a serious medical risk when left untreated. Countless patients have opted for removable and temporary fixes such as dentures without even realizing that they might be good candidates for dental implants. Here is a closer look at this advanced procedure and why it is so important to treat tooth loss.
Your Mouth After Losing Teeth
Tooth loss can take place for a wide variety of reasons at practically any stage in a person’s life. Currently, the most common cause of tooth loss is periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. This takes place when bacteria growing on the gums begins to weaken the soft tissue as well as the surrounding teeth. Other common causes of tooth loss include severe dental caries, trauma to the face, and deterioration of the jaw bone. When a tooth is lost it is immediately going to change the appearance of a patient’s smile, but it will also result in some serious medical issues.
After a tooth has been lost, all the surrounding teeth will slowly begin to shift inwards. This takes place because every tooth relies on the teeth next to it for support. Over time, this can lead to serious problems with positioning which can result in the loss of even more teeth. Teeth also help to stimulate the jaw in order to keep it healthy. When the tooth is lost and not replaced, the jaw will lose much of its strength.
What Are Implants?
Implants are comprised of two primary components including the implant itself (the rod) and the dental crown. The rod is a small titanium screw that is anchored into the jaw in order to form a powerful bond. Once the mouth has healed, the custom dental crown is then attached to restore the smile. Most of these treatments require at least two visits to the dentist in order to let the mouth heal after the rod has been anchored, but there are options for same-day tooth replacements in some situations. Implants can also be used in conjunction with long-term dentures in order to replace multiple teeth that have been lost in a row.
The Ideal Candidate
Practically anyone that has lost one or more teeth and has relatively healthy gums and bones is a good candidate for this procedure. During the initial consultation, it is important for the patient to be thoroughly analyzed to ensure they have no medical conditions that will cause the body to reject the implant. Modern dental crowns are not only personalized to match the tone and shape of the natural teeth, but they can also last for 15 years or longer. When cared for correctly, the implants themselves will last a lifetime.