Why It's Important To Replace Missing Teeth
 BiteLock knows that missing teeth can be a stressful experience. Whether it is cosmetically unappealing or tucked away where no one can see, knowing that it is there can make you worry about a great many things. What can you eat? What should you avoid? What will happen to your other teeth? These are all very good questions, and in the end, it is incredibly important that you get broken, and missing teeth are taken care of immediately. Missing teeth can become a roadblock that just grows and grows the longer it is ignored. For more information on why to get your missing tooth taken care of, or when/how to do so, give us a call here at BiteLock today, and we can help you every step of the way.
Your Teeth Can Shift
One of the things that people don't realize right away after losing a tooth is that the teeth surrounding that gap can move. Your teeth will try to compensate for the loss and move in to fill in the space. However, this can lead to more problems. Your teeth will not shift cooperatively. They will become crowded or angle at a very problematic degree. If you find a tooth is beginning to tip into that space, that could result in uneven bite force, a bad bite angle, resulting in cracks or chips, or that other tooth to become dislodged over time and cause you a great deal of pain and difficulty. Replacing the missing tooth will remedy that before it begins.
Food, Drink, and Speech will all Come More Naturally
With a broken or missing tooth, it becomes more difficult to eat, drink, and speak over time. Eating and drinking can cause a great deal of discomfort if the gum area in the gap is damaged or irritated by temperature or harshness of the food. Speech can also be impaired, possibly resulting in a lisp or something of that nature as you are forced to articulate differently than you would ordinarily. When you get that tooth replaced, it allows things to flow naturally once more. This means that your tongue will not stumble when you try to speak, and your gums will not be as damaged when trying to eat or drink.
Oral Hygiene
It is easy for bacteria to collect in the pits where teeth used to be. It is also easy to neglect those areas when brushing your teeth because you tend to be focused on, well, your teeth. Getting that tooth replaced allows your oral hygiene routine to be more effective, and to keep halitosis and gum disease at bay.
 Dental Implants & Bone Loss In Your Jaw
Dental implants are a popular option for replacing missing teeth. They provide a variety of benefits, including comfort, ease of care and the fact that they are a permanent solution to tooth loss. Quite possibly the biggest benefit, however, is that they help to preserve the integrity of your jawbone. However, for implants to be placed, you first need to have sufficient bone mass in your jaw. At Bite Lock, we can perform bone augmentations and nerve repositioning, allowing you to enjoy the many benefits that implants have to offer.
How is Bone Mass Lost?
Bone mass is lost, or resorbed, as a result of tooth loss. However, how does this happen? Your teeth play many important roles in the functions of your mouth. They allow you to bite and chew your food. They help you to speak properly. They even provide you with a beautiful smile. They also have a crucial role in the health of your jawbone. When you chew, the roots of your teeth stimulate your jawbone. This sends a message to your body to send nutrients to your jaw. When you lose your teeth, even just one, there is less stimulation. As a result, fewer nutrients are sent, and your jawbone begins to grow weak.
The Importance of Bone Mass for Implant Success
Implants rely on a process known as osseointegration. They are surgically implanted into your jaw. As your jaw heals, the bone fuses to the titanium rods. This turns your implants into a stable support for your false teeth. When you don’t have sufficient bone mass, the stability of your implants is compromised, and they can become loose or fall out.
Bone Augmentation
A bone augmentation is a bone graft designed to restore mass to your jaw. It essentially builds your jaw back up so that it can successfully support dental implants. The bone used for your graft either comes from your own body or a donor. We may also use synthetic materials if we feel necessary.
The bone augmentation is a surgical procedure. We start by numbing the surgical site(s). Sedation may also be used as well. If we are using your bone, it is usually taken from your hip or your tibia. Incisions are made in your gum tissue, exposing the areas of weakness. We then pack the bone material into the designated areas and is usually secured with small titanium screws. Finally, your gums are stitched closed, and you are sent home to heal.
What is Nerve Repositioning?
Your lower jaw has a nerve, called the inferior alveolar nerve. This nerve gives feeling to your chin as well as your lower lip. Sometimes, for dental implants to be placed in your lower jaw, this nerve may need to be moved to avoid permanent nerve damage. This is done with a nerve repositioning.
To perform a nerve repositioning, a small section of bone on the outer portion of your jaw, which exposes the nerve and the vessel canal. The nerve and the vessel bundle are moved out of the way, and protected, while dental implants are being placed. Once your implants are in position, the nerve and vessel bundle are replaced. The access point is filled with graft material, and the area is stitched closed.
BiteLock has answers to any questions you may have. If you are suffering from a missing tooth, we can help you to find a solution that will best fit your needs, lifestyle, budget, etc. We are experts, and we care about you, so be sure to give us a call today at (972) 594-7414 to set up an appointment with one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff members.
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