Bone Grafting,
Las Vegas, NV

Why Jaw Bone Health Matters

The jawbone is the underlying structure that protects the teeth – therefore, it’s easy to see why jawbone health is so vital to strong overall oral health. The jawbone begins to deteriorate with one or more teeth are missing, leading to a missing tooth root that is no longer connected to the jawbone. When this deterioration continues over years, this results in the “saggy” jaw that many patients suffering from tooth and jawbone loss can begin to develop. 

Much like how the body is maintained through exercise, your jawbone must be used in order to retain its strength and function. When teeth are missing, the jawbone no longer receives the use it would in that small area where that tooth or teeth are missing. This is why it’s so vital to have missing teeth replaced immediately after they are lost. 

Health Concerns Caused By Tooth and Jaw Bone Loss

• Concerns with remaining teeth such as spacing and alignment issues as well as further tooth loss,
• A “saggy” jaw,
• Sagging skin around the mouth, 
• Jaw pain or TMJ,
• Problems with speaking,
• Issues with eating and swallowing food, 
• and Sinus complications.

Why Jaw Bone Loss Occurs

There are several reasons and circumstances under which patients can begin to lose jawbone and experience jawbone deterioration:

Having Teeth Extracted

Tooth extractions can be performed for a number of reasons, mainly as the result of a tooth becoming infected due to decay. It’s vital that extracted and missing teeth are replaced to avoid any jawbone loss in the future. This is because once the jawbone loses stimulation from the use of that tooth, the jawbone begins to quickly lose strength in that small area of bone. The jaw is no longer utilizing that bone, therefore, the bone material begins to deteriorate. How quickly bone loss occurs depends on the patient and their existing oral health, but it’s vital to have missing teeth replaced within weeks of a tooth being lost, if possible. Anything longer than a full year can result in serious jawbone loss. 

Gum Disease

Gum disease, or periodontal disease when advanced, is the result of poor oral hygiene and decay in the tooth and gum line that allows bacteria to form. When stubborn plaque begins to forms on the teeth and between the gum line, this plaque can cause decay which, overtime, can seriously impact oral health and the function and health of teeth. When advanced enough, gum disease, when left untreated, can result in jawbone loss and deterioration. 

Dentures and Bridgework

When dentures are placed but not supported by any existing teeth, the jaw will no longer receive the stimulation it needs to remain healthy. Older sets of dentures, or newer sets of dentures that are placed inaccurately, can result in underlying bone deterioration. This bone loss can sometimes continue to the point where dentures cannot be fitted. In all, underlying jawbone health is key to proper treatment with dentures and dental bridges and their ongoing use. 

Trauma to the Face and Accidents

Facial trauma, sports injuries, and other types of accidents that result in missing teeth can lead to potential jawbone loss and deterioration. These accidental can also directly fracture the jawbone and direct deterioration and loss. Bone grafting can help to address these types of traumatic accidents and stop the process of deterioration. 

Misalignment

Jaw misalignment can also lead to eventual jawbone loss if not corrected through bone grafting or other surgical means. These issues, as well as prolonged TMJ and prolonged jawbone complications, can also affect the stimulation the jawbone receives, affecting long-term jawbone health and can eventually lead to jawbone deterioration. 

Tumors

Benign tumors in the face, even if they aren’t potentially dangerous, can affect the function of the jaw if they grow to a certain volume. In most cases, this tumor will need to be removed and the surrounding jaw bone treated in order to avoid the deterioration of the jawbone. This surgical removal of the tumor would also serve to remove any other infected tissues so that these benign tumors do not grow back. 

Deformities

Deformaties from birth may also affect the ability of the jawbone to function normally, impacting the stimulation that the jawbone receives. Our team at Las Vegas is able to work to correct these types of deformaties, allowing the jawbone to function normally, protecting the long-term oral health of the patient. 

Sinus Deficiencies

Issues affecting air pressure and the function of the sinuses can also impact the health and function of the jawbone. These types of cases can involve enlarged sinuses or other complication that affect the airways. 

Why Are Ridge Augmentations Performed?

Ridge augmentations are routine procedures that will typically occur after a tooth has been extracted. This treatment helps to reshape the gums back to their normal shape to help prevent jawbone health and overall tooth function. The jaw’s alveolar ridge surrounds tooth roots, and the removal of teeth can affect this ridge’s function and results in gum tissue being unable to heal by itself. By recreating the original shape of the gums, gum health is protected as well as the aesthetic appearance of that tooth.

The Augmentation Process

These types of procedures involve grafting material onto the gum tissue that has been affected by a tooth extraction or other means. First, this tissue is placed onto the gums, and is then secured to avoid the need for other operations later. Once healed, this augmentation can then support dental implants or other restorative treatments if required.

What are sinus lifts?

The sinuses are located behind the cheeks and top row of teeth, and are empty airways. If and when teeth are extracted, this can affect the strength of the underlying bone and its ability to support dental implants or bridges, given that this bone can be very thin. A sinus lift may be necessary to strengthen this area and allow for dental implants and other restorative treatments.

By lifting the sinus, this allows for new bone to form which is necessary to support dental implants, and is ideal for patients experiencing bone loss in the upper jaw specifically. 

Qualifications for Sinus Lifts

Patients may require a sinus lift in any of the below scenarios: 

• a patients is missing several teeth
• a patient is experiencing severe jaw bone loss in the back of the mouth
• a patient is missing teeth due to a medical condition or birth defect
• a patient has lost most of their adult teeth

The sinus lift process

A sinus lift begins with an incision that is needed to access the jawbone, and this area is then filled with grafting material that can be taken from a patient’s body or a donor bank of sterilized material. Then, this area must heal fully so that new bone can begin the form, then making the area able to support dental implants. Sinus lifts can sometimes be performed with augmentations in one procedure. After another period of healing, this area will then be strong enough to support dental implants.

If you’ve been considering dental implants or are curious to see if your jaw is string enough to support dental implants, get in touch with our veteran team at Las Vegas Family Dentists to learn more!

Nerves may sometimes need to be repositioned to allow dental implants to be placed in the lower jaw, and a nerve repositioning operation may be performed in specific area where dental implants are often placed. This is considered a serious operation, and less serious steps are typically taken before a nerve repositioning is considered. This procedure involves the problematic nerve being identified and then lightly pushed aside to make room for a dental implant, which is placed carefully as to avoid this nerve. To gain this grafting material from a patient, the ideal location to receive tissue from are the chin, hip, other region of the mouth, and other areas of the body. Generally, the best treatment results are achieved when this grafting material is taken from the patient directly. This is often because a patient’s own bone will help new bone tissue develop faster. Man-made materials can also be used in bone grafts when natural material cannot be obtained. 

After a nerve repositioning operation occurs, patients should always put minimal stress on the area that received the graft for at least a full day while this area heals. 

Socket Preservation Operations

Tooth extractions can become needed due to pain or decay that is the result of gum disease or prolonged poor oral health. In removing a tooth, the tooth’s socket can become vulnerable as this area is no longer supported and delivering needed stimulation to the underlying jawbone. This can also result in a “saggy” face that patients experiencing missing teeth often experience. Socket preservation procedures seek to preserve the socket after a tooth has been removed, thus protected underlying jawbone and allowing for the placement of dental implants or bridges. They can also help to preserve the aesthetic appearance of the smile and face by helping to avoid facial sagging. 

There are many different methods that can be leveraged to help preserve tooth sockets, helping to protect underlying jawbone after a tooth is extracted. The socket can, in one instance, be filled with bone material or some other synthetic bone material, which will help your body produce more new bone on its own. After a healing period, this area will then be able to support dental implants or other dental restorations.