How Can People With Lack Of Bone In The Jaw Have Dental Implants?

Dental implants are undoubtedly the most advanced tooth replacement available nowadays, seeing as they are the sole restoration that completely restores an entire tooth from root to crown. Nonetheless, for them to be successful, they necessitate an essential thing: a solid enough jawbone to hold them.

The jawbone begins shrinking and weakening once teeth go absent, so much so that it might not have the ability to securely support a dental implant. This pushes individuals to search for less reliable options. Luckily, due to the state-of-the-art advancements in the dentistry field, it is now highly possible to build up and strengthen the jawbone so every patient can securely get dental implants. How? Keep on reading to learn more about some of the newest solutions Dr. Roland Zhuka has to offer.

Image illustrating a dental x-ray before dental implants

Why Is Bone Mass Important?

A dental implant is specifically customized to mimic a natural tooth, root included. In the event of an implant, the root is the titanium post. The titanium post is inserted into the jawbone and it assists in the stimulation of bone growth to fuse the jaw to the post. This process is commonly known as osseointegration and it offers strength to the implant to become a permanent replacement. Regrettably, if there is a high amount of bone loss in the jaw, there is oftentimes not significant bone remaining to keep the implant in place until osseointegration happens. This can then result in implant failure.

What Causes Bone Loss?

Whilst teeth assist in eating and providing one with a beautiful smile, they are just as fundamental for facial bone density. When losing a tooth, bone density declines since the root is no longer stimulating the bone. As a matter of fact, 25% of the jaw’s width can be lost within the initial year of tooth loss.

Bone loss can also happen when you haven’t lost a tooth. Untreated periodontitis, or even gum disease can harm and destroy the bone in the jaw, leading to teeth loosening and falling out. Whenever this happens, the chances are the bone loss has reached its extreme to support dental implants.

Reasons for Jaw Bone Loss and Deterioration

The below-listed causes are the most common ones for jaw bone deterioration and loss that might need a bone grafting procedure.

Tooth Extractions

Whenever an adult tooth is removed and not replaced, there might be jawbone deterioration. Real teeth are deep into the jawbone and they stimulate the jawbone in actions like biting or chewing. Whenever teeth are absent, the alveolar bone, or the part of the jawbone that acts like an anchor for teeth in the mouth, doesn’t receive the needed stimulation anymore and it commences breaking down or resorbing The body doesn’t need or use the jawbone anymore, so it begins deteriorating and goes away. The degree to which the bone deteriorates, alongside the amount of bone loss happening, differs among patients. Yet, the majority of loss happens within the initial eighteen months after tooth extraction and continues eventually during life.

Image illustrating periodontal disease

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal diseases at their core are continuous infections of the gums that eventually destroy the support of the regular teeth. Periodontal disease impacts one or more of the periodontal tissues be it: the alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, cementum, or gingiva. Whilst there exist several diseases that impact the tooth-supporting structures, the plaque-induced inflammatory lesion causes the majority of periodontal issues and they are divided into two main categories: periodontitis and gingivitis. Though gingivitis, which is the less severe of the diseases, might never progress into periodontitis, it precedes periodontitis. The primary cause of gingivitis is dental plaque, in genetically-vulnerable people.

Periodontitis is impacted by bacteria that stick to the tooth’s surface as well as a highly aggressive immune response to these bacteria. In the event that gingivitis progresses into periodontitis, the supporting gum tissue and bone that support the teeth and keep them in place deteriorates. The eventual loss of this bone, namely the alveolar, can cause the loosening and consequently the loss of teeth.

Dentures/Bridgework

Unanchored dentures are inserted on top of the gum line, they however do not offer any direct stimulation to the underlying alveolar bone. With time the absence of stimulation leads to bone resorption and deterioration. Due to this kind of denture relying on the bone to hold them in the proper place, patients oftentimes suffer from loose dentures and issues when eating or speaking. 

Little by little, bone loss might become so difficult that dentures can’t be held in place even with the use of strong adhesives, so a new set of dentures might be needed. The proper repair, care, and refitting are fundamental for the maintenance of oral health. Certain dentures, like those supported by anchors, on the other hand, help properly stimulate and in turn preserve bone. With bridgework, the teeth on each side of the appliance offer enough stimulation to the bone but the part of the bridge that spans the vacancy where the teeth are missing receives no direct stimulation. Bone loss can happen in this region. By doing a bone graft procedure, Dr. Roland Zhuka is now capable of restoring bone functionality and growth, thus halting the impact of poor denture care.

Image illustrating a patient with pain from facial trauma

Facial Trauma

Whenever a tooth is broken or knocked out to such a degree that there is no biting surface left underneath the gum line, bone stimulation is retained, which leads to jaw bone loss. Certain types of tooth and jaw trauma include jaw fractures, and teeth with a history of trauma that might die and result in bone loss years after the first trauma, injury, or accident. A bone grafting procedure would be required to reverse the effects of bone deterioration, restoring function and the promotion of new bone growth in affected regions.

Misalignment

The misalignment problems can lead to an awkward situation in the mouth where certain teeth do not have an opposing tooth structure anymore. The unopposed tooth can sometimes over-erupt, leading to deterioration of the underlying bone. Problems like TMJ issues, normal wear-and-tear, and lack of treatment can create unusual physical pressures that interfere with the teeth’s capability to grind and chew correctly, as well. With time, bone deterioration can happen wherever the bone is losing its stimulation.

Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is a kind of bacterial infection in the bone and the bone marrow of the jaw. Such infection results in inflammation, which in turn can lead to a reduced blood supply to the bone. The treatment for osteomyelitis usually necessitates antibiotics and the removal of the impacted bone. A bone graft procedure might be needed for the restoration of the bone function and growth lost throughout the removal.

Tumors

As known, benign facial tumors aren’t typically threatening, however, they might grow large and there might even be needed to remove a portion of the jaw. Malignant mouth tumors nearly always spread into the jaw, necessitating the removal of the affected section of the jaw. In each case, there is required reconstructive bone grafting to aid in restoring the normal functionality of the jaw. Grafting in patients with malignant tumors might be even more challenging since the treatment of cancerous tumors normally needs the removal of the adjacent soft tissues as well.

Image illustrating bone mass in the jaw

Can You Rebuild Bone Density?

The good news is that bone density loss doesn’t necessarily mean that there can’t be a successful dental implantation. The innovations in the oral surgery field are now able to help you rebuild and grow new bone in the jaw that will support the dental implants. Bone grafts only take a part of the bone from another region of the body and transplant it into the jaw, giving it the right amount of time to stimulate extra bone growth and fuse. With time, the new bone will be solid and secure, enough to support the dental implants.

Different Types Of Bone Grafts

The kind of bone graft you need depends on the degree of bone loss if you have recently lost a tooth, the predominant position of the bone loss, and planned dental implants. There exist three main kinds of dental bone grafts. 

The whole procedure revolves around taking bone from elsewhere in a patient’s body (most commonly their hip or chin) and placing it on the jawbone exactly where a dental implant will be positioned. With time, the new bone will practically bond with the jaw, so in case it is secure enough for a patient’s new teeth. The procedure can additionally be done via the employment of donated bone or a lab grafting material.

Sinus Lift

Positioned right above the back upper teeth are the sinus cavities, and they are lined with a thin and delicate membrane. For those individuals who hope to replace their teeth in this region of the mouth, a sinus lift is the solution, seeing as it helps make sure that the new roots do not by accident penetrate into the sinus membranes. A part of a patient’s own bone or donated bone is placed on the jaw and the sinus is swiftly lifted to leave a vacancy for the dental implants.

Ridge Expansion

As insinuated by the name, a ridge expansion is just that, a kind of bone grafting procedure that is employed to widen a certain region of the jawbone that might be very thin to support an implant. This is generally required when the front teeth need replacement since the jawbone is typically much smaller in this region.

Distraction Osteogenesis

Though quite a mouthful, the approach via distraction osteogenesis really works quickly and simply. Practically, its aim is to create a taller area of the jawbone. This is made through the separation of a piece of bone from the jaw, the placement of a small titanium appliance beneath it, and then its reattachment. The appliance is swiftly altered until the patient’s jaw is at the correct height for the dental implants.

Image illustrating a bone grafting procedure in Albania

How?

An oral surgeon or a simple dentist conducts this procedure. A bone graft is the addition of bone material to the existing bone of the jaw region to create scaffolding for the dental implant. There are a few bone grafting alternatives accessible. The one you decide upon is dependent on your wants and needs, the amount of dental implants with bone loss, and ultimately, the specific facts of your situation.

Your Own Bone

A bone graft taken from your own body is referred to as an autogenous bone graft, namely, an autograft. Generally, a bone from the chin or from the back of the jaw is utilized for such grafts. This is the very best source since it employs living tissue from your own body, with intact cells that help promote bone formation and the recovery process.

Bear in mind however that this type of graft necessitates intrusive surgery and can be quite a complicated procedure. This alternative might not be the optimal solution for every patient.

Donated Bone

A bone graft that employs human bone from a donor is called an allograft. Despite it coming from a human who is not you, allograft bone is processed in such a way that allows it to maintain its cell-forming features whilst preventing any transmission of disease. Allografts, similarly to autografts, stimulate the cells for the promotion of bone formation and healing and they necessitate much less surgery. This in turn can mean a quicker recovery period.

Animal Bone

Bone grafts that employ bone from non-human sources are referred to as xenografts. Generally sourced from cows, xenograft bone is accessible in abundant supply, so the dental practitioner knows there will be enough bone for the graft. Yet, since the bone is from another species, xenografts necessitate a longer healing period, and the resulting bone formation is typically not as solid as it would be with human bone.

Synthetic Bone

Synthetic materials are now accessible that conduct the very same scaffolding function as any other kind of bone graft. But seeing as synthetic bone is man-made, it lacks a lack of bone regeneration capability that autografts or allografts have. Synthetic bone grafts are additionally weak in structure when compared to natural materials but they do have one huge advantage: there is no chance of disease transmission.

Image illustrating a patient satisfied with her dental treatments in Albania

Learn How Dental Implants Can Fix Your Smile

Dr. Roland Zhuka specializes in aiding patients in Tirana, Albania to accomplish a smile they feel confident about. Dental implants help in the restoration of functionality to missing teeth. Throughout a consultation, Dr. Roland Zhuka can establish where you are an eligible candidate for them. To find out more about dental implants and bone grafts, contact him at +355 69 70 44 409 to schedule an appointment. Or if you find it any easier, you can always complete the online form found in the “Contact Us” section of our website. Do not hesitate and contact us today to start a safe journey toward a flawless smile.

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