As people age, their bones and joints can wear out or begin to deteriorate. Conditions like osteoporosis can take a toll on bone growth and health. Mid-October brings Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week. Promoting and maintaining bone growth acts as an essential factor in retaining teeth and a fully-functioning jaw. Adult tooth loss can cause health problems and even lead to an increased risk of dementia in patients. The dentists from Dental Associates of Riverside outline ways to promote oral health and prevent poor bone and joint health.

The Importance of Teeth

Gum disease remains the primary cause of adult tooth loss in America. Living with tooth loss can cause embarrassment, low self-esteem, and diminished confidence. Additionally, tooth loss can cause jawbone deterioration if not treated properly. When tooth loss occurs, the jaw no longer receives signal from teeth, necessary for promoting bone growth.

Jawbone deterioration could result in facial collapse. When facial collapse occurs, patients’ often lose confidence in their appearance because of the abnormalities in the way skin hangs over their jaw. In order to reduce the risk of gum disease, always maintain a proper oral hygiene routine.

Dental Implants Promote Bone Growth

After tooth loss, several tooth replacement options can provide a cosmetically appealing aesthetic. However, dental implants also serve to continue promoting bone growth. Dentures simply do not provide the same stimulation to the jaw which could result in facial collapse. Dental implants typically consist of a titanium post and a ceramic prosthetic to mimic the feel and appearance to natural teeth.

Many patients report they can consume their favorite foods with dental implants. Patients with dentures can experience difficulty chewing and speaking due to denture slippage. Although dentures can serve as reliable prosthetics, continued jawbone stimulation marks a clear advantage for dental implants in terms of bone growth.

Schedule Your Visit for Bone and Joint Health

Adult tooth loss can take a toll on a person’s overall quality of life. At Dental Associates of Riverside, we can discuss effective means of gum disease prevention in our 92506 dentist office to help you avoid tooth loss. We offer comprehensive dental care and multi-specialty dentistry to our patients of all ages. Contact us by calling (951) 369-1001 to schedule an appointment today. We welcome patients from Riverside and all neighboring communities in Southern California.