If you are interested in dental implants to replace one or more missing teeth, you may have heard that you can only get them if you have good oral health. Does that mean that people with bone loss need to consider other restorative methods?
The answer is not that simple. Here's why bone mass matters for implants and what you can do if you have bone loss.
Dental implants are designed to work just like a natural tooth. The implant gets inserted into the jawbone and acts as the root of your new tooth. After the implant is securely attached to the jawbone, the dentist can add the abutment and dental crown.
But, for that to happen, the implant needs enough tissue to fuse with. Inadequate bone mass can make it more difficult (if not impossible) for the osseointegration process to occur. Without a secure and steady foundation, the implant will likely fail.
Your dentist will first check the health of your gums and jawbone to make sure that they can support an implant. If you don't have enough bone mass, then he may recommend additional treatments before proceeding with the implant.
For example, he may suggest bone grafting, a procedure that involves transplanting bone tissue (either from a different part of your body, from a donor, or synthetic bone) to stimulate bone growth.
It's important to remember that bone grafting is a slow process. After the graft has been placed, you will have to wait for several months for the area to develop enough bone mass to support an implant.
Sometimes the bone loss is so significant that bone grafting isn't enough to restore the jawbone. If that's the case, we'll help you find alternative treatments as dental implants may not be a suitable option for you.
Fortunately, restorative dentistry offers numerous solutions to restoring missing teeth, such as:
Missing teeth can affect multiple aspects of your life. They can make it difficult to smile with confidence, engage in social situations, pronounce certain words, and chew your food properly.
If you've been dealing with missing teeth for a long time, you may experience bone loss too. Our team will examine your oral health and determine if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants or if you need to consider other restorative treatments.
Get in touch with the team at Valley Edge Dental to book your appointment now.