Bone Loss
“Bone loss is a common consequence of loss of teeth and chronic periodontitis. In the case of periodontitis, the bacteria gradually eats away at the underlying jawbone and at the periodontal ligaments that connect the tooth to the bone.”
Tooth Loss affects our ability to eat
These factors make eating a more selective process and we tend to eliminate the very foods which could prolong vitality and health as we age.
These foods include nuts, apples, cruciferous vegetables and meats of various kinds as well as several others. Not to mention that we give up the occasional hard to bite into treat on a holiday for fear of losing a tooth! We tend to replace the more solid foods with more carbohydrates such as pasta, white rice and bread, which is proven to detract from health and longevity.
Dentures are one solution and definitely increase the ability to eat compared to no tooth replacement.
Dental Implants are a solution which offer a viable alternative to dentures and actually fully restore the ability to chew any food consistency in almost every case. Quite often patients remark that their teeth are actually stronger after implants than with natural teeth.
These foods would of course be introduced only after the prosthetics are in place and full healing has taken place. After healing has been accomplished the dental implants easily become a normal part of your life and eating, with little thought to it being a prosthetic. It is actually quite a technological breakthrough and a milestone towards prolonged quality of life.
Social Benefits
