‘Bone’ - The foundation for dental implants

‘Bone’ - The foundation for dental implants

 

How do you know if you have enough bone

for dental implants?

 

 

Routine dental x-rays show large amounts

of detail, but in only two dimensions.

From these views it is generally possible to

judge the height of bone available for

implant placement; however,

more advanced imaging techniques are

sometimes needed to determine

the equally important bone width.

 

 

 

 

Dental CBCT Scans – there are now a

number of advanced x-ray techniques that

allow your jawbone to be looked at in all

three dimensions. The most accurate and

widely available is known as the CBCT

(cone beam computed tomography) scan.

 

Images obtained by CBCT scanning will

normally be able to show all of

the information required about your bone,

including quantity and quality,

but most importantly the presence of

anatomical structures that must be avoided.

What can cause bone loss?

 

 

 

 

Whenever a tooth is lost or extracted

a considerable amount of the bone

that once surrounded the remaining root

may disappear. This loss can be particularly

rapid during the first few months and

is described as ‘bone resorption’.

Although the rate and amount of bone

resorption is highly variable between

individuals, it will always occur to some

extent, unless specific care is taken to

reduce its effects.

 

 

 

Many patients report that after a while

their dentures become progressively looser

and do not fit as well as they once did.

Initially the increased rate of bone loss

following extractions is responsible for the

observed deterioration of denture fit.

Over the long-term it is the direct effect

of chewing forces that causes slow

deterioration of the supporting bone.

Therefore the longer dentures are worn,

the less bone is available for

dental implants.

 

 

Can dental implants preserve bone?

This is one of the most important features

of dental implants. Once in place and

supporting teeth, everyday functional

forces (eating, smiling, talking) stimulate

the surrounding bone, which responds

by becoming stronger and denser.

 

Like all things there are limits as to

how much work an implant can do.

Your treatment provider will be able to

discuss this in more detail as it relates

to your individual case.

 

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