Dental Implants for Bone Loss Patients Often Start with a Second Opinion

You’re Not Out of Options — Even If You’ve Been Told “No”

Have you been told you can’t get dental implants because of bone loss?

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If so, you’re not alone — and it’s possible that you may still be eligible.

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Many people who have missing teeth or have worn dentures for a long time end up with bone loss in their jaw. That’s because when teeth are missing, your body thinks it doesn’t need that bone anymore… and it slowly goes away.

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If bone loss is a concern, you may have wondered if you’ll ever get your smile back. But the truth is, dental implants may still be possible, even if you’ve lost a lot of bone.

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Here’s  why bone loss happens — and what options you have.

3 Reasons Bone Loss Happens

1. Genetics

Sometimes, bone loss just runs in families. If your parents or grandparents had early tooth loss or weak jawbones, you might be more likely to have it too. It’s not your fault — it’s just how your body is built.

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2. Missing Teeth for a Long Time

When you lose a tooth and don’t replace it, the bone underneath can start to shrink. It’s kind of like a muscle you don’t use — over time, it fades away. That’s why people who’ve had missing teeth for years often have more bone loss.

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3. Wearing Dentures for Years

Dentures don’t keep your jawbone healthy. In fact, over time, they can speed up bone loss because they sit on top of the gums and put pressure on the bone underneath. That’s why some long-time denture wearers notice their dentures don’t fit as well anymore — the bone has changed.

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How Dental Implants for Bone Loss Patients Are Still Possible

The good news? Today’s dental implant options are more advanced than ever. Even if you’ve lost bone, there’s still hope.

Option 1: All-on-4® Implants Work with What You Have

All-on-4® is a type of full mouth dental implant that uses just 4 (or sometimes more) implants to support a full set of teeth. The implants are placed at specific angles to make the most of the bone you do have. That means even if you’ve been told you have some bone loss, you might still be a candidate for new teeth.

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Option 2: Bone Grafting and Sinus Lifts

In some cases, a dentist may recommend a bone graft or a sinus lift. These procedures help add bone to areas that need a little extra support. It does take more time to heal, but for some patients, it can make dental implants possible when they wouldn’t have been otherwise.

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Option 3: Zygomatic Implants: A Special Solution for Severe Bone Loss

If you have severe bone loss in your upper jaw, there still may be another option for you — zygomatic implants. These are implants that anchor into the cheekbone instead of the jawbone. 

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These are only available for the top arch and because the procedure is more technically challenging, not every provider outside of Nuvia offers this. However, at Nuvia, your providers are highly experienced and do dental implant procedures day in and day out.

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Can Dental Implants Stop Bone Loss?

Yes — and that’s a huge benefit for your oral and overall health..

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When you get dental implants, they act like natural tooth roots, keeping your bone strong. That means implants don’t just replace your teeth — they help protect your jaw from further bone loss.

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It’s one reason many people choose dental implants over dentures. Dentures can speed up bone loss… but implants help stop it.

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How To Find Out if You Have Bone Loss

Wondering if you’ve lost bone?

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There’s really only one way to know for sure: come in for a consultation.

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At your visit, the team will take a 3D scan of your jaw. This gives them a clear look at your bone structure and helps them determine which options are possible for you.

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Even if you’ve been told “no” before, a second opinion could change everything.

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The first step is taking the 60-second eligibility quiz. If bone loss is a concern the last thing you want to do is wait. Take the quiz and come in for a consultation before it’s too late!

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Permanent Teeth in 24 Hours

At Nuvia you not only get a team that can handle advanced procedures like zygomatic dental implants, you also have the unique ability to get permanent teeth in 24 hours.

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Thanks to years of research developing this process and a custom-built lab at every location, you can get your permanent zirconia teeth just 24 hours after surgery. That means no temporary “healing” teeth. No waiting for months. Just strong, beautiful teeth — fast.

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And with a 99.13% implant success rate, Nuvia patients can feel confident knowing they’re in experienced, capable hands. This success rate is even higher than what’s reported in many large studies on dental implants, which typically range between 93.3% and 98%.*

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See if you may be a candidate for permanent teeth in 24 hours with the 60-second quiz

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Source: (1) Pjetursson, B. E., Thoma, D., Jung, R., Zwahlen, M., & Zembic, A. (2012). A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) after a mean observation period of at least 5 years. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 23(Suppl 6), 22-38.