Your jawbone health plays an important role in not just your oral health but also your overall health. That is why Dr. Ali Alijanian strives to take care of it, so that the loss of bone in your jaw does not lead to further health complications down the road. Jawbone deterioration is usually caused by teeth extraction or gum disease and can lead to symptoms like facial pain, problems with remaining teeth, distortion of the sinus and facial features, difficulty speaking and inadequate nutrition from the inability to chew.
The Importance of Teeth For Jawbone Health
When one or more teeth are missing it can lead to bone loss at the site of the gap. This loss of jaw bone can develop into additional problems, both with your appearance and your overall health. You may experience pain, problems with your remaining teeth, altered facial appearance, and eventually even the inability to speak and/or eat normally.
In the same way that muscles are maintained through exercise, bone tissue is maintained by use. Natural teeth are embedded in the jawbone and stimulate the jaw bone through activities such as chewing and biting. When teeth are missing, the alveolar bone, or the portion of the jawbone that anchors the teeth into the mouth, no longer receives the necessary stimulation it needs and begins to break down, or resorb. The body no longer uses or “needs” the jawbone, so it deteriorates.
Potential Consequences of Tooth and Jawbone Loss
- Problems with remaining teeth, including misalignment, drifting, loosening, and loss
- Collapsed facial profile
- Limited lip support
- Skin wrinkling around the mouth
- Distortion of other facial features
- Jaw (TMJ or temporomandibular joint) pain, facial pain, and headaches
- Difficulty speaking and communicating
- Inadequate nutrition as a result of the inability to chew properly and painlessly
- Sinus expansion
Call our oral surgeon in Walnut Creek, California, at 925-934-7888 if you are worried about your jaw health and speak to a team member about scheduling a consultation!