Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth. They function and look and feel just like normal teeth, giving you a renewed smile and renewed life quality. But a crucial element in the success of a dental implant procedure is one thing: the density of the bone in the jaw. The first step in deciding if a dental implant procedure is right for you involves learning the status of the bone in your jaws.
This article will shed light on why bone density plays such a critical role in implanting, the implications of low bone density, and how current dental practices can overcome this problem to guarantee success.
What is Bone Density?
Bone density is the measure of the bone minerals present in the bone tissue of an individual. This simply means the density of the bones and how many minerals density they actually contain. Based on the implant process, the root structure that will receive the implant is the bone tissue in the upper jaw. The implant involves the insertion of a titanium screw into the bone tissue, and the process through which the implant fuses with the bone tissue is referred to as the osseointegration process.
Jawbone loss may occur due to a variety of reasons. Generally, when a tooth is lost, the bone supporting the tooth starts to shrink because it is no longer being stimulated. Another cause for bone loss in the jaw is severe gum disease in the form of periodontitis, and a variety of other reasons due to diminished bone density in the body, such as osteoporosis and other diseases.
Effects of Bone Density to Implant Success
The implant requires a healthy bone density to be a success in its placement in the mouth. The bone density of the jaws will fail to provide the needed grip to hold the implant in place if it is thin and soft. Several issues will be experienced due to the bone density condition of the jaws, and they include the looseness of the implant and the failure of the implant to fuse with the jaws.
Just think of it in terms of how easy it is to put a screw into a thin piece of drywall versus a wooden stud. The screw will go into the wooden stud well and will stay there, while it will be very easy to remove from the drywall. The bone structure in the mouth has to be dense and healthy enough to withstand the pressure of biting and chewing in the coming years in order for the implant to be stable and last a lifetime.
Bone Grafting: The Answer to Low Bone Density
If the dentist finds that there is a lack of bone density, this doesn’t necessarily mean you are disqualified from implant surgery. Bone grafting is a pretty popular and effective solution to this problem because it is possible to add bone tissue to the area where the density is lacking and this will serve as a bone scaffold to promote the growth of new bone tissue.
There are various bone grafts available depending upon the source of the bone: bone taken from the body, bone from a human donor, bone from an animal source, and bone from a synthesized source. The dentist will be able to advise you upon the availability of the bone graft that will be best suited to your case. The healing process of the bone will take a number of months, and when an implant is ready to be embedded, the bone will be sufficiently robust to handle the implant.
Consult Your Dental Practitioner
The status of the jaw bone is crucial in the success of affordable dentures in Oklahoma City. The bone gives the implant the supportive environment that will make the restoration last for a lifetime. For a patient contemplating the placement of implant restorations, the process involves an assessment by the dentist first. The dentist will be able to analyze the density of the bone and prescribe a treatment regime that will include a bone graft depending on the results.
