Implant dentistry helps correct the number one problem caused by losing teeth – bone loss. When a tooth is extracted, the surrounding bone is no longer affected by the pressure of biting on the missing tooth. This causes the bone to “shrink” – with a 25% loss of surrounding bone thickness and a 4mm decrease in bone height in the first year alone. Bone loss will continue over time, with factors including health, age and hormone levels determining the rate of loss.

Losing a single tooth will cause the surrounding teeth to move towards the gap, causing misalignment and opening gaps between neighboring teeth. In the case of losing most or all of a person’s teeth, the bone loss is more dramatic, leading to changes in the shape of the face and an “elderly” appearance. The face shortens, the lips pull inward, and cheeks appear to droop on the jawline. This can change the shape of the lips and cause the nose and chin to appear more pronounced. Dental implants help prevent bone loss, much like a natural tooth – it puts pressure on the bone, stimulating it to stay strong.