Why Tooth Replacement Is Vital for Healthy Jaw Bones

Have you ever lost a tooth and thought about ignoring the problem? If so, you’re not alone. Many adults assume that they can get by with one or more missing teeth, and often put off trips to the dentist because they don’t consider the loss of a few teeth anything to be concerned about. But is that true? Well, as it turns out, no. In fact, history has shown that a missing tooth is not as unimportant as some might think. The reality is that tooth replacement can be vitally important to maintaining healthy jaw bones.

Missing Teeth and Your Jaw

That might sound a little odd to you. After all, it’s a tooth – and your jaw is a big piece of durable bone, right? The reality is that bones are funny things. We think of them as these powerful support beams that are so durable that they’ll always be there when we need them. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth.

You see, your jaw bone is like other bones in your body. Sure, it’s strong and durable and meant to last. However, like other bones, it will only maintain those qualities if you regularly stimulate it. In that respect, your jaw bone has a lot in common with your body’s muscle tissue. If you ignore your muscles and don’t provide them with the stimulation they need, those tissues will atrophy and shrink. Eventually, you begin to suffer muscle loss and become increasingly weak.

When your jaw bone fails to receive stimulation– something that happens when you’re using your teeth to bite into food and chew it up into smaller pieces – then bad things can happen. Bone density can decrease as the bone atrophies from that lack of stimulation. As the jaw bone loses volume, your entire face can begin to sag – leaving you with noticeable alterations in appearance.

The problem is that tooth loss can dramatically alter the way we bite, chew, and eat. Sometimes, a person with several missing teeth might begin to choose softer foods or avoid chewing on that side of the mouth. This can reduce that required stimulation and leave your jaw bone vulnerable to bone loss, weakness, and instability.

Avoiding the Problem

The good news is that it doesn’t have to get to that point. When teeth fall out or otherwise go missing, you have options that can address the problem. Modern dentistry provides a whole host of tooth replacement treatments that can range from dentures or bridges to dental implants. In most instances, these options will ensure that you continue to maintain that dazzling smile too.

More importantly, though, your tooth replacement options will restore full function to your mouth – and that means that your ability to bite and chew and stimulate that bone mass will be restored too! In the end, your decision to replace those teeth will not only leave you with a stronger and healthier jaw bone, but a perfect smile as well.