Your natural teeth are embedded in your jaw bone, which is stimulated when you bite and chew. This regular stimulation of your jaw bone preserves bone density so it can support your teeth and facial tissue.
When you’re missing teeth, your jaw bone doesn’t get the stimulation it needs. The bone begins to break down and may start to get brittle and atrophy if left untreated.
Tooth loss isn’t the only cause of bone loss. Other reasons include:
Unanchored dentures or bridges
Periodontal diseases
Misaligned teeth
Facial trauma
Developmental conditions
The amount of bone loss and the rate at which it’s lost varies significantly from person to person. For instance, in the case of extractions, it’s important to act quickly to preserve the bone surrounding the roots of your teeth, especially if you plan on getting a dental implant.
A bone graft at Creating Smiles Dental helps to replace lost bone for socket preservation and, in conjunction with an implant, grow new healthy bone.