One main requirement for dental implants is bone. Your bone has to be dense enough and there has to be enough of it. What happens when there’s not enough bone for dental implants? There may still be hope for your dream smile.
Ready to get new teeth with full mouth dental implants? See if you may be a candidate with this 60-second quiz.
What Causes There to Be Not Enough Bone For Dental Implants?
*Tooth loss causes bone loss. Healthy teeth apply constant pressure on the bone. This forces the bone to remain dense and strong.
When teeth go missing, the bone becomes weak and begins to shrink. Over time, the bone can deteriorate so much that it cannot support an implant.
Because dental implants are the next best thing to your natural teeth... the bone needs to be able to support the implants just like your natural teeth.
Luckily, if there is not enough bone for dental implants other advanced procedures such as a bone graft or zygomatic dental implants (for your top teeth only) could be options for you.
Solutions to bone loss
In a perfect world, you would have a bone graft at the same time you lost your tooth. Then you would have an implant installed after that bone graft healed.
Actually, in a perfect world you wouldn't have missing teeth at all and wouldn't need dental implants.
A bone graft is when your dental implant provider adds the Dental Implant Surgeon needs to add bone to your existing bone.
Let's dive into the different kinds of bone grafts. And remember, bone grafts are a very common procedure and are usually done in one sitting.
Ways to Restore Bone if You Don’t have Enough Bone for Dental Implants
Ridge preservation
A ridge preservation bone graft is when the surgeon grafts bone onto any parts of the bone ridge underneath your gums.
This is what is generally used with dental implants, because we want the bone ridge to be strong, without any peaks or valleys, when placing the implants.
At Nuvia, we use a ridge preservation bone graft while placing the dental implants. After grafting the bone, we create what is called a “membrane” out of the patient’s white blood cells, creating an organic sort of band-aid that helps the graft heal faster.
Sinus Lift
A Sinus lift is used when there is very little to no bone on the top arch of the mouth. Bone is added into the sinus cavity, where bone is then grafted to create a solid structure to place implants.
This requires anywhere from 6-12 months of healing time before implants can be placed. However, patients may still qualify for permanent teeth in 24 hours after their dental implants are placed.
Zygomatic Dental Implants
Another option instead of a sinus lift when there is not enough bone for dental implants, could be to use zygomatic implants.
These implants have longer screws that allow them to anchor into the cheekbone instead of the jawbone. They can be used without a sinus lift, which means there is no waiting period for the bone to heal.
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Your surgeon can explain all options available to you, including what is recommended for your specific case after you’ve had a CT scan at your consultation. First step to getting a consultation is filling out this 60-second quiz.
How do I know if I have bone loss?
Most people with missing teeth will have bone loss. And if you have worn dentures for a time you will also have bone loss.
Dentures can actually speed up bone loss. If you currently wear dentures or have had missing teeth for longer than a year… you most likely have bone loss. But, the only way to know for sure is to get a scan and measurements.
This will be done at your consultation where a restorative doctor will be able to assess your needs and check if there is or is not enough bone for dental implants.
Don’t put off a consultation about dental implants - especially if you wear dentures! Waiting too long can contribute to bone loss and decrease your chances of qualifying for full mouth dental implants.
Too many people suffer needlessly when they could get implants and change their life. Don’t let yourself be one of them!
A Dental Implant Experience You Can Trust: Nuvia Exclusively Provides Dental Implants
Your team at Nuvia is exclusively focused on full mouth dental implants only. You’ll receive care from surgeons that are highly skilled and trained, and focused entirely on your surgery.
Other dental offices may attempt to save money by having the surgeon apply and manage the anesthesia in addition to placing the dental implants.
With your safety and comfort in mind, you will have a dedicated CRNA to manage your anesthesia at no added cost to you. This allows your surgeon to focus 100% on your dental implants.
Bone loss may not disqualify you for implants anymore. With the technology we have, and the incredible surgeons at Nuvia Dental Implant Center, you may still be a candidate for dental implants even with bone loss.
Don't wait
Whether you have been missing multiple teeth for years... or your teeth have begun to fail or fall out. The sooner you can set up a consultation, the better off you will be.
If you are experiencing pain from failing root canals or pain from broken or decaying teeth... you don't have to.
Dental implants can be an affordable and cost effective solution that can give you back your smile and oral health.
The dental implant cost guide includes details on cost, financing plans, and how the cost of dental implants compares to other temporary teeth replacement options.
Download your copy here!
Get Your New Smile Overnight with Permanent Teeth in 24 Hours
Traditional methods of getting dental implants can require up to 10+ months of waiting in temporary teeth and coming back for frequent measurement and fitting visits.
This can be very time consuming and inconvenient.
However, you can get your custom-made, permanent teeth 24 hours after your dental implants are placed at Nuvia.
No waiting for months with temporary teeth and no back and forth visits for measuring and wax try-in teeth.
Be free of the problems that dentures and other temporary solutions to missing teeth bring. Get a brand new, permanent smile that will let you eat what you want and smile without worry.
Take the 60-second quiz to see if you may be a candidate for permanent teeth in 24 hours:
Sources:
* Bone Loss Occurs Due To Missing Teeth: Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 33, Issue 7, September 2013, Pages 967–974, https://doi.org/10.1177/1090820X13503473
