Your jawbone is living tissue
Like every bone in your body, your jawbone is constantly rebuilding itself, and it takes its cues from your teeth. Every time you bite and chew, the tooth roots transmit pressure into the bone, signaling it to stay dense and strong. A healthy jawbone, in turn, holds your teeth firmly in place and supports the muscles and contours of your lower face.
That partnership is also what makes dental implants possible. An implant fuses directly with healthy jawbone, and; just like a natural root, keeps stimulating the bone around it for as long as it's in function.
When teeth are lost, or when gum disease attacks the bone around them, that stimulation stops and the foundation begins to erode. Protecting jawbone health is a core part of what we do as periodontists.
What keeps jawbone healthy
Functioning teeth or implants
Chewing forces transmitted through tooth roots, or implants, are the stimulation that tells bone to maintain itself.
Healthy gums
Gum disease is a leading cause of adult bone loss. Treating it early, including with laser gum surgery, protects the bone underneath.
Prompt tooth replacement
Replacing a lost tooth quickly, ideally with an implant, or with socket preservation at extraction, prevents the bone from shrinking back.
Regular periodontal care
Routine exams and maintenance visits catch bone changes early, when they're easiest to treat.
Lost bone can be rebuilt
Even if your jawbone has already deteriorated, from missing teeth, gum disease, or years of denture wear, regenerative procedures can restore it. Depending on where and how much bone is missing, we may recommend bone grafting, ridge augmentation, or a sinus lift.
Learn more about why jawbone loss happens and what it means for your health, or talk with our periodontists about where your bone stands today.
