Dental implants aren’t fitting for every person, particularly for patients with bone loss. It can be quite hard to get dental implants simply because there is not enough bone left in the jaw to hold the implant.
Thus, the issue continues, is there a way to get dental implants with bone loss? Absolutely. For the most part, nevertheless, the bone will have to be replaced before any dental work is performed. Let’s explore in more detail dental implants, the part bones play, and how exactly bone grafting can aid with bone loss.
Dental implants are a replacement for missing or lost teeth that are necessary for extraction, including such as decayed or damaged teeth. Prior to proceeding with dental implants, however, the dental professional will establish which is the best course of action stationed on the condition of yours and dental needs or wants.
A dental implant is generally a titanium post that is placed into the jaw that plays the role of an anchor in place of the tooth root. Perpetual or detachable dental prostheses, such as bridges, dentures, or crowns, are then fastened to the titanium root.
Dental implants are an efficacious alternative to replacing missing teeth in patients, seeing as they are solid and can act as supports to the artificial tooth or teeth. Pros of dental implants involve:
Though dental implants do acquire a fine level of bone density for support, patients who have suffered bone loss- for instance, those who have worn unbolted dentures for an amount of time- can still profit from the dental implant treatment. At our CDC dental clinic office, we provide our patients with additional procedures named bone grafts and sinus lifts. Both procedures are designed so they can rebuild levels of bone density that help the increment of the dental implants’ chance of success.
Bone grafts are mainly utilized in the lower jaw, and they are generally conducted in the dental professional’s chair here at our CDC dental clinic. The implant dentist spreads the regions where dental implants should be placed, using either bone from another part of a patient’s body or artificial bone-like chips. Once healed, this will provide a sturdy base for dental implants.
Sinus lifts, on the other hand, are utilized in the upper jaw and they involve the packaging of the sinus cavity space with bone graft material. Once again, the material will incorporate with the existing bone so the dental implants can acquire satisfactory support.
Some other causes of bone loss can include:
Normally, you should be in good general health, as well as oral health, by having healthy gums and enough bone to support the dental implant. Nonetheless, if there is not enough bone in the jaw, there exists a solution to combating this problem.
Bone grafting is the process during which the foundation to prepare for a dental implant is built. Bone grafting can work in case there is significant damage to the bone, the bone is too thin, or even when softening or decay is not capable of supporting a dental implant.
Dental implant posts need enough bone to prevail to be firm and stable enough to keep the post in place. If there is enough bone graft placed, it will help with two main things:
The procedure will require the dental professional to lift the gums, place either your own bone in the region or place synthetic, and then await. Undoubtedly, sedation will be used, and the procedure is a little more complicated. Nonetheless, this is known as the base for a bone graft.
Once the new bone is placed, the existing bone and the new bone will need to osseointegrate within a time of about four months.
As soon as the graft is completely healed, and the dentist is sure that the jawbone is strong enough to hold the implant, the procedure can recommence. There is always the option of a zygomatic implant, which we will cover in a little bit.
Whilst uncommon, bone graft failure can happen. Failure happens mainly because of an infection, one that can lead to pain, discomfort, sensitivity, fever, and gum infection. The dental professional will take any preventive measure to minimize the risk of bone graft failure. Despite that, there always exists a small chance of failure.
The dentist will take the time to make certain that you have the right characteristics or qualifications to be a suitable candidate for bone grafts. The last thing he/she would want is for you to experience failure after your bone graft. Notwithstanding, there might be some underlying conditions for bone loss that can turn a graft into unworkable. For instance, there exist some rare cases during which a person has a disease that impacts bone strength and makes them not a rightful candidate for a bone graft. Your candidacy will be discussed throughout your meeting at the dental office, to make sure that a bone graft is the best solution to bring back your confident smile.
Provided that the bone grafting is impractical or something that the patient isn’t after; there should be taken into account a different type of implant: zygomatic implants.
In former times, patients with insufficient bone density merely couldn’t get dental implants at all. Howbeit, technology, and medical signs of progress have changed the past, and dental patients that have compromised bone structures or may have low jawbone density have now a few alternatives that can assist whenever they are in need of dental implants.
In grafting, an injured bone with low density is mixed with bone matter from another part of the body. Little by little, the two matters will osseointegrate, rehabilitating a certain amount of density and force to the damaged bone.
As aforementioned, for dental implants, dental professionals can either take material from a patient’s body, commonly the tibia, hip bones, or other parts of the jawbone, and graft it into the part of the bone that is needed to support the dental implants or use bone material provided by other donors, sometimes even use synthetic bone produced commercially.
Once the jawbone has regained the right density, the dental professional can safely apply the new dental implant to the region.
A substitute solution to the restoration of lost bone density is zygomatic implants. This process anchors the dental implant into the zygoma bone, which is the part of the jawbone much closer to the cheek, known for its high density.
Zygomatic implants do not include the reallocation of the outside bone matter as bone grafting does. They usually do not acquire a long period of recuperation as bone grafts do. The recuperation time for the bone grafts lasts from six to twelve months. Au contraire, the recovery period for zygomatic implants is only four months.
Dental implants are repeatedly advertised as the best alternative for tooth replacement, and of course, there is a good reason behind that. Dental implants are a persistent solution for tooth restoration since they can aid in restoring the realistic look of the smile.
There are many advantages of dental implants, including:
A significant advantage of dental implants is that you can replace any number of teeth, whether it is one or multiple.
Naturally, there are certain disadvantages associated with implants that require careful consideration, such as:
Yet another evident disadvantage of dental implants is the fact that they are not quite simple to use when there is stern bone loss.
If dental implants are not the right alternative for you, there are a few other options to take into consideration, including:
Bridges can aid in filling the gap that is caused by the missing tooth. With such a restoration alternative, two crowns are placed on each side of the empty space where the missing tooth once was.
Though it is not an ever-lasting implant, bridges can be a workable solution for the replacement of a lost tooth. Appropriate care and the avoidance of hard foods can help in maximizing the lifespan of the bridges.
If there are several teeth missing, dentures may be an alternative in case dental implants are not. Full or partial dentures fit over the gums and are intended to look just like real teeth. They are tailor-made for your mouth and are oftentimes tantamount to natural teeth.
In the event that you have tooth loss, be it because of an injury or disease, or because of an extraction, it is critical to replace it as soon as possible. The failure to replace a lost tooth can lead to instability and other problems that can influence oral health. At the dental office, you can discuss all the alternatives for replacement, and if a dental implant is a right solution for you.
To ensure the longevity and health of dental implants, care for them as you would your natural teeth by:
The placement of dental implants can help in the stopping of bone loss that is happening in the first place, which is why at the CDC dental clinic, we reckon that they are the prime solution to tooth loss.
The visit to the dental professional in order to have the dental implants placed as soon as possible after the teeth are lost, will help to keep the jawbone sturdy and healthy enough to support the new teeth, be it a crown, bridge, or fixed denture. This can all be done sans the need for additional processes and hustle-free- with no fear of battling loose dentures for years.
At our CDC dental office, it is oftentimes probable the placement of dental implants into the sockets left by the extracted teeth right after the extraction. Nonetheless, it does not matter the time your teeth have been missing, dental implants can always help. Contact us now to learn more.
