Dental Implants - My Tooth Supporting Bone

Nature has provided tooth supporting bone for the years when teeth are present. When teeth are lost, the tooth supporting bone degenerates. Nature takes away what you do not use! The bone under the gums "shrinks" and dentures get loose. Dental implants, when properly placed and maintained, provide excellent bone support so that the bone tends to be preserved since it is still being used.
A patient with all his or her natural teeth in a healthy, well maintained and functionally accurate condition can chew at 10 percent efficiency. With every tooth lost the amount of chewing efficiency decreases depending on whether or not the teeth are replaced and how. Ultimately, if all teeth are lost, you will have perhaps a 15 to 18 percent chewing efficiency (with good - fitting dentures on adequate bone ridges).
With implants and nonremovable bridge work you could obtain as high as a 95 percent efficiency.

Dr. Mario E. Garita DDS
Costa Rica Tel/Fax: (506) 290-1750 P.O. Box 333-1200, San Jose, Costa Rica Sabana Oeste, main road to Pavas, From La Sabana Park 150 mts. west. Left hand side, second floor.	USA Interlink 329 P.O. Box 02-5635 Miami, Florida 33102
Email: jgarita@sol.racsa.co.cr Web Site: http://edenia.com/medical/garita