Rebuilding Jawbone After Tooth Loss in Los Angeles

Losing a tooth changes more than the gap you can see, and many people are surprised to learn that the bone underneath begins to change too. At Forever Smile Dental Care in Los Angeles, Dr. Mehrshad Shelyan helps patients understand what happens to the jaw after tooth loss and, when it is needed, rebuilds that foundation with bone grafting so a dental implant has something solid to hold onto.

Understanding why bone needs your teeth

Your teeth and jawbone support each other. Every time you bite and chew, the roots of your teeth send gentle pressure into the bone around them, and that everyday stimulation helps the bone keep its shape and strength. When a tooth is lost or removed, that area of bone no longer gets the signal it needs, and over time it begins to shrink.

The change is gradual and painless, so it is easy to miss, yet it can affect the teeth on either side of the gap, how your teeth fit together and, when several teeth are missing, even the shape of your face and lips.

Noticing the signs of bone loss

You may notice neighboring teeth drifting or tipping into the space, food catching in new places, a denture that feels looser than it used to, or a sunken look around the mouth when several teeth have been missing for a long time. Gum disease can also wear away the bone around teeth that are still in place, which is one more reason to treat it early.

Dr. Shelyan uses imaging and an exam to see how much healthy bone you have, so you know exactly where you stand before making any decisions.

Rebuilding the foundation with bone grafting

A bone graft places safe, carefully processed graft material where bone has thinned, giving your body a framework to grow new bone of its own, and over the following months that material is gradually replaced by your own bone to create a stronger base. Dr. Shelyan performs bone grafting in-house as part of implant care, so you are not sent to another office and one team knows your case from start to finish.

A graft can be placed right after a tooth is removed to preserve the bone, or later to rebuild an area that has already shrunk. We numb the area thoroughly and offer oral conscious sedation, and most patients describe only mild soreness that settles quickly.

Protecting the bone with a dental implant

A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth, so it gives the bone the stimulation it was missing and helps preserve it in a way a bridge or removable denture cannot. The ADA's MouthHealthy overview of implants describes how bone grows around an implant over several months. Once any grafted bone has matured, Dr. Shelyan places the implant and plans a natural-looking crown on top, and for patients missing many teeth, implant-supported dentures offer a secure fit that also supports the bone.

Acting sooner gives you more options

The sooner a missing tooth is replaced, the more bone you keep and the simpler treatment tends to be. If you have a gap you have been living with, or a tooth that may need to come out, a visit to talk through your options is a good first step.

Questions about bone loss and grafting

Does the jawbone always shrink after a tooth is lost?

Some bone loss is common after a tooth is lost, because that area no longer gets the pressure from chewing that keeps it strong. How much depends on how long the tooth has been missing and on your health. Dr. Shelyan uses imaging at our Los Angeles office to check your bone and explain your options.

Will I need a bone graft before getting an implant?

Not always. It depends on how much healthy bone you have where the implant will go. Dr. Shelyan uses imaging and an exam at our Los Angeles office to tell you whether grafting is part of your plan, and if it is, he performs it in-house as part of your implant care.

How long does a bone graft take to heal?

Grafted bone usually needs three to six months to mature before an implant can be placed, though every case is different. At our Los Angeles office, Dr. Shelyan will give you a timeline specific to your mouth and check your healing along the way, so you always know what to expect next.

Is bone grafting painful?

Most patients feel only mild soreness afterward that settles quickly. We numb the area thoroughly and offer oral conscious sedation at our Los Angeles office for extra comfort, and Dr. Shelyan explains each step beforehand so nothing about the procedure or your recovery comes as a surprise.