Losing your teeth starts a chain of events that can have dire physical and cosmetic consequences. The most obvious result is a gap in your smile. Less obvious is the loss of chewing function and the inability to eat a complete diet that can result from tooth loss. While these are certainly serious issues, a potentially bigger problem lies hidden beneath the surface: bone loss.

Your jawbone needs the chewing action of the teeth to stimulate it and keep it strong. Otherwise it will begin to disappear (atrophy) in the same manner that the unused muscles beneath a cast supporting a broken bone get smaller. Without the support of your teeth and facial bones, your face will begin to look prematurely aged. The good news is that tooth replacement with dental implants offers a solution to help prevent bone loss.

Facial appearance with healthy teeth and bones	Appearance after tooth loss	Appearance after tooth and bone loss

The hope of restoring something important that has been lost, especially in the human body, is an exciting possibility. With dental implants, it's not just a hope. It's a reality....

Jenny had lost a lower bicuspid tooth due to long standing periodontal disease. A single implant was placed into the site where the tooth was lost. This implant was eventually restored with an 'abutment' and a porcelain-metal 'crown.'