The Importance of Teeth for Jawbone Health

When one or more teeth are missing, it can lead to jawbone loss at the site of the gap. This loss of jawbone can develop into additional problems, both with your appearance and your overall health. You may experience pain, problems with your remaining teeth, and altered facial appearance, and eventually even the inability to speak and eat normally.

In that same way that muscles are maintained through exercise, bone tissue is maintained by use. Natural teeth are embedded in the jawbone, and stimulate the jawbone through activities such as chewing and biting. When teeth are missing, the alveolar bone, or the portion of the jawbone that anchors the teeth in the mouth, no longer receives the necessary stimulation, and begins to break down, or resorb. The body no longer uses or “needs” the jawbone, so it deteriorates and goes away.

Potential Consequences of Tooth and Jawbone Loss

  • Problems with remaining teeth, including, misalignment, drifting, loosening and loss
  • Collapsed facial profile
  • Limited lip support
  • Skin wrinkling around the mouth
  • Distortion of other facial features
  • Jaw (temporomandibular joint TMJ) pain, facial pain, and headaches
  • Difficulty speaking and communicating
  • Inadequate nutrition as a result of the inability to chew properly and painlessly
  • Sinus expansion

Krueger & Lenox Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

5 out of 5 stars based on 1 Bone Grafting reviews.

Patient Review By Diana S

My son Grant went to Dr Krueger as he was born without a front incisor tooth. Dr. Krueger is beyond our highest expectations in expertise, kindness, did an amazing job removing his wisdom teeth, using some of that bone and creating bone surgically so then he could insert a metal stem for Grant to have a front tooth. Life changing! If you need an amazing Dr. that has attention to detail and knows how to help you fix your hard teeth issues Dr Krueger is it. We are so thankful we found him. I have ran into people in Bend that rave about his work, and now I am one of them! Thank you so much Dr. Krueger and your amazing staff. What a difference you make!

- Diana S

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