Part of our dedication to helping our patients maintain beautiful, healthy, and fully-functional smiles is educating them about their oral health, the dangers it faces, and the most efficient ways of protecting and treating your smile. As one of the most devastating events that can affect your mouth, tooth loss is especially dangerous because it influences the state of your entire oral health when ignored or inadequately treated. In the past, we’ve spoken about the continuing damages of tooth loss, and how dental implants can help preserve your oral health. Today, your Astoria dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, quizzes your knowledge about the consequences of tooth loss and the benefits of dental implants.
Crash Course on Tooth Loss and Dental Implants
Your remaining teeth react to the loss of their brethren. What phenomenon can occur after tooth loss, and can be prevented by replacing the crowns (top, visible parts) of your teeth?
- A gapped smile
- Shifting teeth
- Both
Your ability to chew is directly affected by the loss of a tooth’s crown, or top part. What is directly affected by the loss of your tooth’s roots?
- Your ability to speak clearly
- The health of your jawbone
- The health of your tongue
A dental implant, which is surgically inserted into your jawbone, is crafted from biocompatible titanium. What is the significance of this material?
- Living bone accepts it and attaches to its surface
- It matches the color of your gums for optimal discretion
- It’s the most inexpensive material that can be used
Treating tooth loss is your choice, but what complications can unchecked tooth loss cause?
- Jawbone deterioration
- Further tooth loss
- Both
Answers
3—The gap in your smile left by lost/extracted teeth is an obvious concern, but you may not realize that your remaining teeth mourn the loss, as well. Your teeth are designed to evenly displace the pressure of your bite, and if one or more are lost, the remainder of them can shift towards the open space and try to take up the slack.
2—Healthy tooth roots are embedded in your jawbone, and when you bite and chew, the stimulated roots let your body know that your jaw needs nutrients to support them. The loss of these roots results in fewer nutrients, and your jawbone’s health can suffer from the deficiency.
1—As a prosthetic tooth root, a dental implant only works when fused to your jawbone, like your natural tooth roots are. Biocompatible means that your living jawbone accepts it as real and fuses to its surface, securing your implant within your jawbone to provide an exceptionally sturdy base for your replacement teeth.
3—Ignoring the loss of your teeth, especially the roots, can allow jawbone deterioration to continue unabated. In time, your jaw will lose its ability to retain the rest of your natural teeth, leading to their eventual loss, as well. Dental implants can restore the stimulation of your tooth’s roots, helping to preserve your jawbone’s health and retain what remains of your natural, healthy smile.
Innovative Dental Implants with Your Astoria Dentist
To learn more about the consequences of tooth loss, or to find out if dental implants are the right solution for you, call us immediately to schedule a dental consultation with Dr. Leibowitz. You can contact our Astoria dentist office by calling (718) 728-8320. Located in the 11106 area, we proudly serve patients from Astoria, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the surrounding communities.
