Replacing Bone for Dental Implants
While dental implants are an increasingly popular form of tooth replacement that are available to those of all ages and walks of life, there are some basic requirements that must be met for one to be a good candidate for implants. One of the primary prerequisites is the simple availability of enough healthy bone mass in the jaw for the implant fixture to be installed.
Typically composed of three distinct pieces, the first part of the dental implant to be placed in the mouth is the implant fixture, which, as the name implies, is actually implanted into the structure of the mouth. To give the dental implants the strength that they are known for, the implant fixture is inserted into the jawbone itself, where it is then left to integrate with those tissues, essentially becoming part of the bone.
In order for the implant fixture to be inserted successfully into the jaw, there needs to be enough bone mass to support it. This means that care must be taken to screen potential candidates for dental implants for bone mass quality before planning out the procedure. For anyone who does not have enough healthy bone mass to proceed, bone grafting may be required.
Options for Those Without Enough Healthy Bone Mass
In some cases, mini dental implants can be used in place of regular dental implants in cases where there is not enough healthy bone mass to entrench the implant fixtures. In this case, your dentist or oral surgeons will simply use a thinner, smaller-profile dental implant system that is able to make purchase in the amount of bone mass that you currently have available. One benefit of having dental implants installed for those with smaller amounts of health bone mass is that it can actually help stimulate continued growth of those hard tissues, thereby staving off future bone loss and stimulating the health of what is still there.
Mini dental implants cannot be used in all cases, though, and for others who wish to have dental implants installed in spite of not having enough healthy bone mass available, bone grafts may be required before the dental implants can be installed.
What is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is a procedure by which bone tissue from somewhere else is added to a part of the body that needs it. This tissue may be taken from some part of your own body or from that of another; in some cases, it may also be taken from an animal or even synthetically created in a laboratory.
This is the case in bone grafting for dental implants, as well. Healthy bone tissue from another source is grafted on to your existing bone to help generate new tissue. This may be taken from your hip, for example, or it may come from outside of your body. Your dentist can give you advice on which form of bone grafting may be best for you depending on your own unique situation.
How Does Bone Grafting Work?
Regardless of the source of the tissue, the bone grafting procedure is quite similar. First, any decayed or heavily infected tissue in the grafting site is removed. The new tissue is then placed where it is needed, where it is then left to help stimulate new bone growth in that area. This can be aided by the placement of a thin metal post that serves a similar function as the roots of one’s teeth.
In some cases, bone grafting can even be done at the same time that dental implants are installed. More typically, however, bone grafting is done in advance of the installation of dental implants. Usually, several months must pass between the bone graft and the placement of the dental implant fixture, to allow enough time for sufficient bone tissue to be generated.
How Does Bone Loss Happen?
One of the primary causes of bone loss in the jaw is gum disease. It may seem surprising that what starts out as sore, puffy gums could turn into such a destructive problem, but gum disease is in fact one of the leading causes of this form of bone loss.
At root, gum disease is a bacterial infection that begins on the teeth and soon spreads to infect the gums. While gum disease can be reversed in the earliest stage, known as gingivitis, left untreated it can turn into a more advanced and destructive disease called periodontitis, in which the bone and tissues below the surface of the gums are attacked. This can eventually lead not only to tooth loss, which is destressing enough, but also the loss of bone in the jaw, which is an even more serious problem that can lead to others.
How Can I Prevent Bone Loss?
As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; taking care of your gums is no exception. If you have not yet suffered the kind of bone loss that this article addresses, there are a number of small steps that you can take to prevent it from occurring in the future.
First and foremost, maintain good oral hygiene by simply brushing and flossing each day. While your toothbrush and floss can’t remove every bit of bacteria from your teeth and gums, this is an important first line of defense against gum disease.
Second, be sure to keep up with routine dentist’s visits. Not only will your dentist keep an eye on the health of your gums at each visit, but your dental hygienist will also keep your teeth and gums healthy by removing built up plaque and tartar from your teeth during your dental cleaning. While this may seem like a preamble to the visit with your dentist, the cleaning of your teeth is a vital part of maintain your oral health; this should not be skipped.
Third, and finally, follow the recommendations given to you by your dentist and dental hygienist regarding your teeth and gums. If additional steps are necessary to safeguard the health of your gums, be sure to follow up.