If you or a family member has lost a tooth or has had missing teeth for some time, you have probably heard about dental implants. Millions of Americans have multiple missing teeth, so you likely know a bit about these tooth replacement options. Dental implants are a dream come true for anyone with missing teeth. The benefits are striking, and fully restored function is life-changing.
While almost anyone can have dental implants, the procedure is different for everyone. Several things happen in your mouth when you lose a tooth or multiple teeth. One is that your teeth may start to shift; another and more significant possibility is to lose bone. Bone mass loss is a hurdle for anyone who wants dental implants.
What Is Bone Loss?
Bone mass loss is the eventual outcome of having a missing tooth for a long time. The reason it happens is that the bone is no longer in use. Your teeth are constantly connected to the jawbone and continuously stimulate it. The bone becomes idle when this connection is lost and the tooth is gone.
As your body adjusts to the missing tooth or teeth, it recognizes that the bone is no longer useful. The result? Your body begins to reabsorb the bone under the tooth.
How Does Bone Loss Affect Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial teeth; more accurately, they are replacement tooth roots topped by an artificial crown. They have to be implanted in the jawbone in the place of the missing tooth. With bone loss, you do not have enough bone mass to hold the implant. This is a problem. Fortunately, there is a solution—bone grafting.
What Is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is where the orthodontist gets foreign bone tissue and places it in your jaw. The process takes some time because the bone must first fuse with the jawbone. After the graft is firmly attached to the jaw, the implant can be embedded. The type of bone graft your orthodontist performs will depend on the extent of your bone loss.
Types of Bone Loss
Socket Graft
The most common bone graft option for dental implants is the socket graft. The dentist takes bone tissue and surgically places it in the tooth socket. It is popular because it provides a firm base for dental implants.
Sinus Lift
One of the more popular bone grafts is the sinus lift, which orthodontists perform on the upper jaw. It is necessary when you do not have enough bone to hold your dental implants in your upper jaw. They usually place the graft in the sinus cavity.
Block Bone Graft
The orthodontist will perform a block bone graft when you have extensive bone loss, such as from trauma. They usually source the bone from the back of the jaw and hold it in place using titanium screws. Once it bonds with the jaw, the screws are removed.
Lateral Ridge Preservation Gap
This type of graft is performed when you do not have a wide enough jaw. The orthodontist uses human bone to help widen the jaw.
For more information on bone grafting for implants, visit Weston Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at our office in Weston, Florida. Call (954) 507-6441 to book an appointment today.
