This message from Karen E. Williamson DDS in Rockwall focuses on missing teeth, bone health, and the promise of dental implants.
Our teeth have many important functions. We need them to chew our food, talk, and smile. But have you ever considered their role in holding up your face? When we lose teeth, the bone around the site of the extraction begins to loosen. This, in turn, causes our facial muscles to sink in and collapse.
Bone Metabolism
We sometimes think of bone as a solid mass, unlike the softer tissues in our body. In reality, below the seemingly rock-hard surface, bone tissue is full of small holes, kind of like a sponge. In the interior bone tissue, the bone is consistently regenerating itself. This essential process is sometimes called “bone metabolism.” In the jaw bone, the movement of the teeth stimulates this process of rebuilding. When the tooth is gone, the bone starts to shrink as blood flow is reduced.
People with missing teeth not only have an unattractive gap in their smile, they begin to look older because of the bone recession and eventual facial sagging. It is not simply an issue of attractiveness—it poses serious health perils. It may become difficult to chew food, making it harder to get appropriate nutrition. Mental health can also be affected when a patient with missing teeth loses confidence or withdraws from social situations because they are self-conscious about their smile.
Dental Implants Can Prevent Bone Recession
Modern dentistry to the rescue! Dental implant technology delivers a tooth restoration solution that preserves healthy bone metabolism while providing near-normal tooth function. For individuals missing many (or all) of their teeth, it may not be possible to replace every single tooth with an implant. In many of these cases, dental implants can be used to provide an anchor for dentures.
To find out more about dental implants, call Karen E. Williamson DDS in Rockwall for a consultation. We also provide general dentistry.
Contact Karen E Williamson D.D.S., P.A:
469-402-0024<
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
560 W Ralph Hall Pkwy, Rockwall, TX
Rockwall, Texas
75032
