{"id":4388,"date":"2019-02-06T15:20:23","date_gmt":"2019-02-06T14:20:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swedishdental.com.linux13.curanetserver.dk\/?p=4388"},"modified":"2023-04-20T13:57:13","modified_gmt":"2023-04-20T12:57:13","slug":"do-i-have-enough-bone-treatment-for-dental-implants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swedishdental.com\/en\/do-i-have-enough-bone-treatment-for-dental-implants\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Get Dental Implants With Bone Loss?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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6 February, 2019<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Can You Get Dental Implants With Bone Loss?<\/h1><\/div>
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Teeth are to your mouth as a brick is to the foundation of your house. They\u2019re an essential component that keeps everything else in place.<\/p>\n

Fixing completely damaged or missing teeth is essential, and using dental implants is a common and durable restorative treatment approach.<\/p>\n

However, a dental implant must have enough support from the underlying bone to succeed, support you may not have if you\u2019ve already experienced bone loss.<\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re considering dental implants as the best option for you, you should check first if you have enough bone to support them. But even if you don\u2019t, there are still ways dentistry can help you.<\/p>\n

With this article, the Swedish Dental team will walk you through everything you need to know about dental implants, bone loss, and bone treatment options available to you.<\/p>\n

What Are Dental Implants?<\/h2>\n

So, let\u2019s start with the basics and understand what dental implants are before discussing your options regarding bone loss and dental implants.<\/p>\n

A\u00a0dental implant<\/a>\u00a0is a surgically-implanted replacement tooth root (usually made from titanium) designed to provide a strong foundation for any fixed or removable replacement teeth. These replacement teeth on the top of the implant are made to match your natural teeth and, usually, are synthetic crowns.<\/p>\n

Implants give patients a chance to live their lives without dentures, which helps to retain the original structure of the mouth and prevent loss of bone mass.<\/p>\n

Implants can succeed that by providing the same stimulation, your bones would get when you chew and bite since they function more or less like a real tooth.<\/p>\n

Before starting with your restorative treatment, several appointments and consultations will be needed. Your dental professional should evaluate your overall oral health, the number of restorations you need, and what is the best approach for you.<\/p>\n

However, things can get more complicated, and more appointments will be required if you\u2019re already dealing with bone loss.<\/p>\n

What Causes Bone Loss?<\/h2>\n

Several things can cause bone loss in the mouth and jaw, so it\u2019s essential to discuss with your dentist and discover what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n

For most patients, the common cause of bone loss is losing a tooth as an adult. That might not seem like a big deal, but it changes more than you realize.<\/p>\n

When you lose teeth as a child, the structure of your mouth doesn\u2019t change because you have adult teeth growing to replace them. However, when you lose your adult teeth, a natural replacement is no longer an option.<\/p>\n

Losing a tooth means that you\u2019re missing a bone that acts like a brick in the foundation of your mouth. Once it\u2019s gone, your remaining teeth will shift to accommodate for the empty space.<\/p>\n

Worse, the jaw bone below it no longer receives stimulation when you chew or bite (which keeps the bone healthy). When the jaw bone isn\u2019t stimulated, your body thinks you no longer need it, and the bone begins to atrophy, losing density and gradually impacting all of the surrounding teeth.<\/p>\n

Bone loss can also arise from common ailments like cavities, gum disease, infection, injuries to your teeth or jaw, or even a developmental defect.<\/p>\n

Also, loose dentures, misalignment, or poor bridge work can lead to insufficient stimulation, deterioration, and, eventually, bone loss.<\/p>\n

Lastly, one question we commonly get from some of our patients is related to bone loss after the placement of dental implants. Specifically, we\u2019ll discuss further\u00a0what causes bone loss around dental implants.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The answer here is\u00a0peri-implantitis<\/a>. It\u2019s a severe inflammatory disease involving the implant\u2019s surrounding gums and bone. When left untreated, it can lead to bone loss, making the implant loosen or even fall out.<\/p>\n

Why Does Bone Loss Affect Dental Implants?<\/h2>\n

As mentioned above, like other bones and muscles of your body, your teeth and jaw are a \u201cuse it or lose it\u201d situation. Therefore, when something is not stimulated or working properly, it must be replaced or dismissed.<\/p>\n

So why do you need enough bone?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s actually quite simple: the main qualifier for receiving a dental implant is to have sufficient bone to support it.<\/p>\n

Having a strong underlying foundation of healthy bones will ensure that your implants are a vital option that will last.<\/p>\n

Additionally, keep in mind that when dental implants are placed, they help preserve the underlying bone, which gives them an additional advantage over bridges and crowns.<\/p>\n

One of the main reasons why dental implants are so durable is that they literally bond with your real jaw bone during the osseointegration period.<\/p>\n

The problem is that dental implants work almost exactly like a natural tooth.<\/p>\n

So if, for example, you\u2019ve lost too much bone in the potential implant site, your dentist won\u2019t have enough bone to screw the implant in place.<\/p>\n

But even if the implant can be screwed, when experiencing bone loss, there is a significant chance that the implant won\u2019t be able to bond properly with it.<\/p>\n

So, what happens next?<\/p>\n

Bone Treatment Options<\/h2>\n

Fortunately, bone loss doesn\u2019t completely prevent you from ever getting dental implants. In fact, you can still receive dental implants even if you have significant jawbone loss.<\/p>\n

Before getting your implants, your dentist will have to reconstruct the bone you\u2019ve lost so that the implant can be properly screwed into place.<\/p>\n

There are several different options for doing this, depending on the extent of your bone loss, your personal preferences, and your unique situation.<\/p>\n

Here we\u2019ll explore two possible options: bone grafting and distraction osteogenesis.<\/p>\n

Bone Grafting For Dental Implants<\/b><\/h3>\n

Bone grafting<\/a>\u00a0is a surgical procedure to restore the area of your mouth that has suffered from bone loss or need additional support. Your dentist or surgeon uses healthy bone tissue (from your own body or an artificial one) and attaches it to the jaw.<\/p>\n

There are several\u00a0periodontal options<\/a>\u00a0for bone grafting, including the following:<\/p>\n