Facial trauma or injury is one of the most common causes of tooth loss, but the tooth can be replaced with a structurally complete prosthetic device if you obtain treatment in a timely fashion. Dental implants provide an excellent tooth replacement option for patients who have lost a tooth due to injury and have adequate remaining bone tissue in the jaw.
Dental implants are small titanium posts that are inserted into the patient’s jaw by an oral surgeon. After dental implants are placed, the surrounding bone grows around them and forms a bond with the implant’s surface. The titanium implant is biocompatible, which facilitates this osseointegration process.
When osseointegration is complete, the dental implant becomes a permanent part of the mouth’s structure—as long as the patient continues to maintain good oral hygiene habits and takes steps to prevent gum disease, which can lead to premature dental implant failure. Your oral surgeon will give you instructions on proper maintenance of your dental implants so that you can do everything possible to maximize their longevity.
The structural characteristics of dental implants offer a number of benefits to patients who choose this option to replace a tooth damaged by injury. The dental implants help to hold the jaw bone in place in the same way that a biological tooth’s root does. In preventing jawbone erosion, the dental implant ensures a consistent fit of the appliance that it supports, whether that is a crown, bridge or denture. Dental implants also preserve more of the patient’s chewing function, as they can tolerate chewing forces of similar intensity as a natural tooth.
Of course, there are alternative tooth replacement methods, like fixed dental bridges or partial dentures, but they include no physical structure to connect the prosthetic crown to the patient’s jaw. As a result, the patient’s jaw may continue to erode. That phenomenon can cause the appliance to lose its fit, and it may also compromise the security of the attachment of surrounding natural teeth that remain in the mouth.
If you have suffered a facial injury that has caused tooth loss, explore dental implants as a tooth replacement solution. Call our office at Texas Oral Surgery Specialists to schedule an evaluation and learn more about this treatment.
