Bone loss underneath the gum line is often due to periodontal disease, and it can lead to serious dental issues and affects the quality of life. People suffering from severe bone loss also suffer from malnutrition due to issues eating, which affects the overall health of the individual. Dentist in Albuquerque NM, often advises dental implants for patients who have missing teeth. But what if they have severe bone loss? Is a dental implant the right option even when there is no enough jaw bone to place the implants?
Dental Implants and Bone Loss
Generally, dental implants are secured in the jawbone using tiny screws. In some cases, the dentist in Albuquerque NM finds that there is no enough bone to place the implants. The reason for severe bone loss is when there is a missing tooth, the jawbone in that place recesses and shrinks down as there is no tooth for it to support. The nutrients supplied to this bone are diverted to other parts of the mouth, which results in loss of jawbone density.
Insufficient jawbone density was a problem for missing tooth replacement in the past. Today, there are different techniques available to place dental implants for patients with compromised jawbone structure.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is only suggested by the best dentist in Albuquerque NM when there is no enough space for the implant to be placed. The dentist will take a 3D image of your mouth and determine whether there is enough space for you to place the implants. When there is not enough jawbone, a bone graft is suggested.
The procedure is done under local anesthesia to numb the pain and lift your gums. A piece of natural or artificial bone is placed where you will need more support for the implants. The bone will begin to fuse together after three or four months. Once the graft is healed, implants are placed. The benefits of bone graft include,
- It provides additional bone mass to support the implants
- It may help in the regeneration of jawbones
Sinus Lift
As the name suggests, the dentists surgically lift up the sinus and place a natural or artificial bone beneath it. It’s a common in-office procedure and has a high success rate.
Bone grafting and sinus lift aren’t recommended even if there is a 1% chance of enough bone density that can be used place implants. It’s determined with the help of a 3D scanner, which takes pictures of the teeth, jaw, and other related structures in full 360° view.
The Bottom Line
Severe jaw bone loss is one of the top reasons for not getting dental implants in Albuquerque NM, for many patients. If you are one among them, don’t fret! Discuss with your dentist as they will work around the issues of severe bone loss and come up with the right solution to get it fixed right away!
