Are you thinking about getting dental implants in Ridley Park? Then you should see Dr. Julia Winter for a short consultation to learn if you’re a good candidate for the procedure.
One of the first things checked during your visit will be your jawbone. Patients with bone loss usually can’t get dental implants unless they also undergo some additional procedures.
Check out this short blog post to learn more:
Dental implants need healthy bones, and they need a specific amount of them. The metal post of the implant gets inserted into the jaw bone and is supposed to hold the rest of the tooth (abutment and dental crown).
Bone loss could mean the metal post won’t fully fit into the root socket. Moreover, people with bone loss are also at greater risk of implant failure since their jawbone will usually not be able to properly heal around the metal post.
In most cases, patients experience bone loss because they have dealt with missing teeth for a long time. Your teeth help stimulate the jaw when you eat and deliver oxygen, which is filled with nutrients.
When you lose a permanent tooth, the jaw is no longer stimulated. Think of it as this section of the jaw starving because it’s cut off from the blood supply. Over time, the bone shrinks and can even change your facial features, leading to a sunken appearance.
One-sided loss can also be caused by trauma or even certain medical conditions. No matter the cause, if the bone isn’t healthy or is lacking, getting dental implants will be tricky.
Luckily, there may be ways to still get dental implants even if you have bone loss. Two procedures that can help include:
A bone graft involves taking another piece of healthy bone and placing it on top of the area that’s suffered bone loss.
The healthy bone will fuse to the area, effectively restoring bone mass and clearing the way for your implant surgery. The graft is usually taken from another portion of the jaw bone.
If you need an implant on the upper arch, an oral surgeon can lift the sinus membrane slightly, which will expose more bone and allow a bone graft placement.
Now that you understand how you may get dental implants despite bone loss, it’s time to learn if you’re truly a good candidate for them. Dr. Julia Winter is here to help you find out in just a short consultation.
Request a visit to Kite & Key Dentistry now and stop by to discover your options.
If you want to learn more about implants, call us at 484-240-7741 today.
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