Dental Bone Loss

Bone loss is a common problem affecting teeth. Individuals seeking dental implants who suffer from bone loss are often given a bone grafting procedure, which can result in a lengthy healing process before implant placement. But are there alternatives to bone grafting? Let's explore what bone loss, bone grafting, and alternative procedures are and which might be a better option for you.

 

Why Does Dental Bone Loss Occur?

Tooth Loss or Extraction

When teeth are lost, the bone goes with them. Teeth are surrounded and supported by alveolar bone, which creates the ridges that help keep teeth firmly embedded. When teeth are lost or extracted, the alveolar bone begins to degrade. This is known as bone resorption, or bone loss. For some patients, bone loss becomes noticeable in as little as two weeks after a tooth is extracted. For others, it can take a year or more.

 

Periodontal Disease

In cases of periodontitis, bone loss can begin before tooth loss occurs. Bacteria can slowly eat away at the underlying jawbone and periodontal ligaments that connect the tooth to the bone. After they are eroded, the tooth may be lost, and resorption intensifies.

 

Smoking

Smoking weakens your body's ability to fight infections, increasing the risk of gum infection and often leading to worsening periodontal disease.

 

Misaligned Teeth

Alveolar bone needs constant stimulation from chewing pressure. When teeth are misaligned, some teeth are not adequately stimulated during chewing, resulting in bone loss.

 

Dentures

Dentures can worsen bone loss due to friction against the gum tissue.

 

How to Prevent Bone Loss?

Dental Implants

The most common and effective method to prevent bone loss is to place dental implants immediately after tooth extraction. Titanium implants mimic the role of a natural tooth root, stimulating the jawbone and allowing for osseointegration (fusion with the bone).

 

Socket Preservation Grafts

If you can't have dental implants placed after a tooth extraction, it is possible to add a graft material to the socket to help preserve the bone and slow the rate of resorption.

 

What is a Bone Grafting Procedure?

Dental bone grafting procedures involve exposing the jawbone and adding bone material to it. This procedure is typically performed to provide a sufficiently dense and thick base for the placement of a dental implant.

Unfortunately, the healing phase of a bone graft requires a number of months before the implant can be placed. Some dentists offer bone grafting procedures in combination with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which claims to speed up the healing process by injecting the patient's plasma into the surgical site.

Furthermore, implants placed in grafted bone have a higher risk of failure than implants placed in natural bone.

 

Are There Alternatives to Bone Grafting?

While bone grafting may be the only bone loss solution for single dental implants, other options are available for those who desire full-arch dental implants.

A single dental prosthesis relies solely on its underlying implant to stay in place. When bone is missing in these individual areas, bone grafting may be the only reasonable option.

A full-arch prosthesis, however, can be secured to the jaw by only 4 to 6 implants, which combine to provide sufficient reinforcement. If 4 to 6 locations in the jaw have sufficient bone, a full arch of prosthetic teeth can be placed.

In cases of advanced bone loss, there may not be enough bone remaining to place implants into the jawbone. In these cases, there may also not be enough surrounding bone for a bone grafting procedure. At this point, many dental professionals may consider a patient ineligible for dental implants. However, some oral surgeons specialize in a bone grafting alternative: zygomatic implants. Zygomatic implants can be placed for a full-arch prosthesis in the upper jaw.

 

Zygomatic Implants

Zygomatic implants are longer than traditional implants and are embedded into the cheekbone called the zygoma rather than the jawbone. The zygoma is sufficiently dense and thick to serve as a base for the implant. If you lack bone in your upper jaw, you can still have a full set of teeth in one day without the need for a bone graft. Implants placed in the zygoma have a higher success rate than implants placed in grafted bone. Zygomatic implant placement is one of the safest and most effective procedures in dentistry.

 

Outcomes of Bone Grafts and Alternatives

Most dental implants are successful. To ensure your dental procedure lasts longer, here are some tips to follow.

• Maintain excellent oral hygiene: Just like your natural teeth, keep the implants, artificial teeth, and gum tissues clean. Specially designed brushes, such as an interdental brush that fits between teeth, can help clean crevices around the teeth, gums, and metal abutments;
• See your dentist regularly: Schedule dental checkups to ensure the health and proper functioning of your implants, and follow advice for professional cleanings;
• Avoid harmful habits: Don't chew on hard objects, such as ice or hard candy, which can fracture your crowns – or your natural teeth. Avoid tobacco and caffeine products that stain your teeth. Seek treatment if you grind your teeth;

 

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