Tooth Loss
Medford, OR
 Your teeth perform several essential functions every single day. Not only do they help you to bite and chew a wide array of food, but they are also important in proper speech and even a beautiful smile. The teeth also play a crucial role in the health of your jawbone. When you lose teeth, all of these functions are affected, and your entire quality of life suffers. Tooth loss even affects the health of your jawbone, which can lead to several other serious complications. Rogue Valley Dental Center can help.
How Does Tooth Loss Occur?
You can lose teeth for a variety of reasons. One of the most common causes of tooth loss is periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is caused by a buildup of plaque and bacteria, which irritate your gums. This irritation causes the gums to become inflamed or swollen. Without treatment, swollen gums begin to pull away from the teeth, forming pockets. Bacteria fall below the gum line and begin attacking periodontal ligaments and your jawbone. Over time, the teeth become loose and eventually fall out.
Other causes of tooth loss include:
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Facial trauma.
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Bruxism, a condition that causes you to grind and clench your teeth.
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Severe tooth decay. |
The Effects of Tooth Loss on Your Jawbone
Your teeth play many important roles in your mouth, including maintaining the health of your jawbone. The roots of your teeth provide stimulation for the jaw when you chew. The stimulation triggers your body to send essential nutrients to the jaw and surrounding areas.
When you lose teeth, some of the stimulation is lost as well. As a result, fewer nutrients are sent. Over time, the bone begins to resorb and grow weak. Your jawbone loses height, width, and mass. This loss of bone mass eventually causes the jaw to change shape, which can lead to several other significant complications. Healthy teeth begin to shift out of alignment, throwing off your bite. This can lead to bruxism, TMD, and more.
Putting a Stop to Bone Loss After Tooth Loss
When you suffer tooth loss, you have a few options for replacement. Traditional replacements like bridges and dentures can restore the functions of your missing teeth and your smile, but these solutions cannot stop bone loss. Using these treatments means that your restoration will need to be periodically changed to accommodate your changing jaw.
Dental implants offer a solution to tooth loss that not only restores the functions of your teeth and your smile but also puts a stop to bone loss. Dental implants use small titanium posts, which are surgically placed into your jawbone, to support your replacement teeth. As you heal, your bone fuses to these posts, stabilizing them in your jaw. With successful treatment, dental implants not only stop bone loss, but they also prevent new bone loss from occurring.
If you are missing teeth, it is essential to have those teeth replaced as soon as possible. With dental implants, we can help to put a stop to bone loss and prevent new bone loss from occurring, helping to protect the health and integrity of your jaw. For more information on tooth loss and the dental implant process, or to schedule your consultation, call Rogue Valley Dental Center at (541) 779-4517 today.
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Rogue Valley Dental Center 
