How Dental Implants Reverse Edentulism

Edentulism is defined as the absence or complete loss of teeth. While tooth loss has long been considered an inevitable part of the aging process, advances in dental hygiene and dental restoration have reversed the effects of edentulism. As a result, more and more people are keeping their natural teeth well into old age.

Recent medical advances have dramatically improved the quality and effectiveness of dental implants. Dental implants have helped millions of patients worldwide who previously had to depend on dentures and dental bridges to restore the functionality of their teeth. In fact, dental implants are the closest substitute to natural teeth and are the perfect solution for patients suffering from complete or partial edentulism.

Dentists use titanium metal implants as a base that anchors the prosthetic teeth into the jawbone. Once the titanium implant has been placed inside the jawbone, it is then allowed to heal for three to four months. This healing period allows the implant to fuse completely with the jawbone. However, the implant will not fuse correctly if the jawbone is too thin. Bone-thinning is a common issue among patients suffering from tooth loss and can be a serious detriment to receiving implants.

The current favored solution is to supplement a weakened jawbone with bone grafts to give the implant a stronger base. In the past, additional surgeries had to be conducted to harvest the bone from other parts of the body. Thankfully, recent research has shown that implanting bone morphogenetic protein in the sinus can stimulate new bone growth in the jaw area within four weeks. This new method is more holistic and effective than traditional West Columbia dental bone harvesting surgery.

According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 69 percent of adults have lost at least one tooth due to decay, disease, or trauma. On the other hand, 26 percent of adults have experienced complete edentulism by the age of 74. Before dental implants became available, the only options to address edentulism were dentures and dental bridges. Unfortunately, dentures and dental bridges encouraged jawbone deterioration. However, if patients let Lexington dentists place implants, they can receive numerous benefits from the procedure.

West Columbia dentists can improve the oral health of patients by placing dental implants. This is because dental implants are much easier to brush and floss than dental bridges. This prevents patients from developing gingivitis and periodontitis.