Tooth loss, whether due to injury or poor oral health, could have a major impact on your appearance. In addition to gaps in your smile, missing teeth could cause your jaw to weaken, leading to an older appearance. But your Cerritos, CA, dentist can help prevent an aged appearance with bone grafting!
How Weakened Jaws Lead to Aging
What happens when we lose natural teeth to cause an older appearance? When teeth are lost, regardless of the reasons, the body will respond to the lack of a tooth root by suspending the flow of calcium and phosphorus to the areas with the lost root. These areas then weaken, gradually losing mass and density to lead to further tooth loss. Over time, this could also cause a prematurely aged appearance, with sunken cheeks and even a ptotic chin. This also means your smile may not be able to support dental implants in the replacement process, which allows the jaw to continue to break down more. But we can strengthen your smile with a ridge augmentation, also known as bone grafting.
The Bone Grafting Procedure
Our team will carefully examine the lower jaw with detailed digital x-rays and CT imaging, so we can plan the rebuilding process. We will apply new tissues to the areas in the form of bone taken from the rear of your jaw, knee, or hip. Our team could also employ donor tissues or even synthetic options. Once attached, these provide a matrix that encourages new jawbone growth and strengthens the smile. Once the area heals, you will have a lower jaw that can support dental implants!
Dental Implant Placement
When we insert one or more dental implants, this provides a titanium post the body will see as natural root structure, allowing it to resume the flow of nutrients to the area. Which means your newly restored bite can stay strong and full, and your new teeth have the potential to last for decades to come, possibly a lifetime in some cases. We can address a single missing tooth, or use several implant posts to secure a bridge or possibly a full set of durable and fixed dentures, which will look and function like natural teeth.
If you have missing teeth and years have elapsed once you lost them, then consider an appointment to see if you need bone grafting and dental implants to enjoy lifelike results and a full smile. If you have any questions about how we treat your smile and strengthen it, then contact our office today to learn more.
TALK TO OUR TEAM ABOUT BONE GRAFTING
To schedule a consultation and have your smile strengthened, then make an appointment with Cerritos Dental Surgery in California call 562-584-4082 today.
