Losing a tooth can not only take a toll on your mental well-being but does severe damage to oral health as well. You might suffer from bone loss if you do not replace missing teeth with an alternative like dental implants.
Can You Get Dental Implants With Bone Loss?
Yes! You can take advantage of getting dental implants with bone loss, but it may require additional procedures such as bone grafting or sinus lift to increase the density of your jawbone.
But why? The reason is that dental implants require adequate bone density support to fuse securely with the titanium post in the jawbone. If your bone is too thin or has lost mass, it may not provide enough support for your dental implant.
In such a scenario, your dentist or oral surgeon may ask you to get a bone graft or sinus lift to add more mass to the jawbone before placing the implant. This procedure involves taking bone from another area of your body or using a synthetic material to build up the jawbone, allowing the implant to fuse securely with the jawbone and providing a solid foundation for the dental crown.
The Reason Why Jawbone Loses its Density
Your jawbone is a living and thriving matter that requires nourishment to stay alive and functional. That is exactly what teeth provide them. With teeth in place, the roots help stimulate the bone, and as soon as even one tooth is lost or extracted, this bone will lose its density and strength.
With time, your bone becomes thin and weak. If more than one tooth is missing, your jawbone will not have enough volume or density to support dental implants safely.
Severe bone loss needs surgical intervention from an expert dental specialist to fit your dental implants.
Types of Bone Grafting Procedure
Here are the top 3 procedures performed.
Socket Preservation Process
It is a type of bone grafting procedure that takes place after tooth extraction. It is an invasive surgery that requires packing bone graft material from another place into the empty tooth socket.
Socket preservation halts the resorption bone process when the tooth goes missing. Moreover, It can also help preserve the health of the bone until a dental implant can be placed.
Sinus Lift Procedure
Sinus lift works best on the bone areas behind your mouth. This includes bone loss where premolars or molars sit. The dental experts carefully lift the sinus cavity to place the bone grafting material and restore proper bone height.
Ridge Expansion
Expanding dental ridges mean a bone grafting situation that restores the natural density entirety of your jaw ridge. This restoration of healthy bone levels towards a jaw arch makes dentures increasingly comfortable and fit to your gumline.
Final Words
In a nutshell, dental implants with bone loss can still be a viable option, but additional procedures may be necessary to increase the density of the jawbone and provide enough support for the implant.
Get your oral examination for dental implants in Irvine from Irvine Family and Implant Dentistry by scheduling an appointment with us. Dr. Jeevandas and Team are just a call away. Dial (949) 552-1380 to connect with us.