Are Dental Implants an Option With Severe Bone Loss?

Dental implants are an excellent method for replacing missing or severely damaged teeth. The procedure involves inserting a post into the vacant space in the mouth, which will serve as the root; then a connecting piece, called an abutment, is placed on the post, and finally, the artificial tooth is installed on the abutment.

For implants to be a viable option, there has to be sufficient bone support in the jawbone for the implant to graft onto. When you have a missing tooth, after a while the jawbone in the vacant space begins to deteriorate because it no longer has to support a tooth. In cases like this, you may be turned away by some dentists who say that dental implants are not possible for you. However, there is still a solution: bone grafting.

       With bone grafting, your dentist or oral surgeon can extract bone material from another part of your body – such as the tibia, or hip bones – and graft it onto the area of the jawbone where it’s needed. They can also use bone matter provided by outside donors, or artificial bone matter. This is done by lifting the gums after they have been numbed with anesthesia, then your dentist will place the new bone matter in the appropriate area. After at least four months, the bone graft will fuse to your jawbone and may begin to produce new bone matter, creating a strong foundation for implants. From here, you can proceed with the implant surgery with full confidence.

If you would like to learn more about using bone grafts to prepare for dental implants, give us a call or stop by Midland Family Dental.