Many dental implant patients are turned away by other providers because they have bone loss. Without the appropriate bone density to anchor from, implants become impossible. There are a few common reasons for bone loss in the jaw that can make implants difficult. Yet even if you have some bone loss, it is still quite possible to get implants.
Causes of Bone Loss
There are two primary causes of bone loss. The first is periodontal disease. Periodontal disease begins in the gums, but can eventually eat away at the bone under the tooth as well. The other common cause of bone loss is a missing tooth. Once a tooth has been extracted, if no replacement is made, the bone under the extracted tooth will wear down and diminish.
What Can Be Done
Contrary to what you may have been told, there are a couple of options for dealing with bone loss so you can still get dental implants. Bone grafting can be done using bone particles, synthetic materials, or other options. The material is grafted onto the bone to provide a durable seat for the dental implant.
Another procedure that is less common is a sinus lift. Our office boasts a prosthodontic specialist who trained under the developer of the sinus lift procedure. A sinus lift can expose more bone so there can be a seat for the dental implant. For some patients, a sinus lift will be more effective than a bone graft.
If you have been told that you have too much bone loss for dental implants, contact us today for an appointment. We specialize in a variety of procedures that enable us to cater to even the most complicated cases.
