If you have lost front or back teeth due to osteoporosis, you may wonder if there's anything your dentist can do to improve your dental health. Your dental provider may restore the natural functions and appearance of your mouth with dental implants. Dental implants are designed to replace extracted or missing front and back teeth. However, there are a number of things you must know about osteoporosis, tooth loss and dental implants before you get your new teeth replacements. Here's how osteoporosis' affects on your oral health and how dental implants encourage a better quality of life.
How Does Osteoporosis and Tooth Loss Affect Your Jaws?
Your primary doctor may already discuss the effects of osteoporosis on the bones of your body. However, the doctor may suggest that you speak to your dental provider about the health of your jaws. It's critical that you do so before you lose additional teeth.
Your jaw bones are made of different types of cells, including osteoclasts. Although osteoclasts are found in many other bones in the body, they play a huge role in the growth and development of your jaws.
Osteoclast bone cells renew, rebuild and strengthen your jaw bones throughout your lifetime. The cells rely on your teeth to carry out their functions. When you lose teeth, your jaws no longer need bone cells to support them. As a result, your jaw bones absorb or take back the cells.
Combined with osteoporosis, jaw bones that are weakened by tooth loss may have a devastating effect on your health. Your jaws may fracture easily when you bite down on meat or hard vegetables. Your jaw bones may become sore and irritated when you place pressure on them, such as lying your head down on a pillow at night.
In addition, if your primary doctor doesn't regulate or make changes in your diet to accommodate your jaw bone problems and osteoporosis, you may lose the beneficial nutrients your body needs to maintain a healthy weight and functions.
To avoid the critical problems above, consult with your dentist about dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants may be a good option for you because they encourage new bone cells to form in your jaw bones. Unlike other types of teeth replacements, such as dentures, dental implants are permanently placed inside the jaw bones.
Implants may preserve the bone tissue you have left, as well as keep your jaw bones from shrinking over time. Because dental implants are made with bone-compatible materials, such as titanium, your jaw bones may accept them better.
How Do Dental Implants Affect Your Quality of Life?
Osteoporosis and tooth loss may change the way your face and jaws look over time. If you lose teeth in the lower jaw, your chin and jawline may recede. Tooth loss in the upper jaw may affect the height and smoothness of your cheekbones. In addition, the skin beneath your lower eyelids may sag or appear loose and wrinkled.
Your dental implants may help repair the physical changes in your face by rebuilding the bone tissue in your jaws. Not only do dental implants encourage your jaw bone cells to grow, they may actually improve your quality of life.
Sources report that women who use dental implants to restore their missing teeth instead of other restorations, such as dentures, may experience an improved quality of life. The women in the study were satisfied with the cosmetic changes their dental implants produced in their appearance.
If you have additional concerns or questions about dental implants and osteoporosis, contact your dental provider for more information. The dentist may help you decide if dental implant treatment is the best option for your needs.
