Procedures

The Importance of Teeth for Jaw Bone Health

When one or more teeth are missing, it can lead to jawbone loss at the site of the gap. This loss of jawbone can develop into additional problems, both with your appearance and your overall health. You may experience pain, problems with your remaining teeth, and altered facial appearance, and eventually even the inability to speak and eat normally.

In that same way that muscles are maintained through exercise, bone tissue is maintained by use. Natural teeth are embedded in the jawbone, and stimulate the jawbone through activities such as chewing and biting. When teeth are missing, the alveolar bone, or the portion of the jawbone that anchors the teeth in the mouth, no longer receives the necessary stimulation, and begins to break down, or resorb. The body no longer uses or “needs” the jawbone, so it deteriorates and goes away.

Potential Consequences of Tooth and Jawbone Loss

Problems with remaining teeth, including, misalignment, drifting, loosening and loss
Collapsed facial profile
Limited lip support
Skin wrinkling around the mouth
Distortion of other facial features
Jaw (temporomandibular joint [TMJ]) pain, facial pain, and headaches
Difficulty speaking and communicating
Inadequate nutrition as a result of the inability to chew properly and painlessly
Sinus expansion