Are you living with compromised or missing teeth? Have you been told in the past that dental implants may not work for you due to bone loss? You should know that there are solutions for you that will allow you to enjoy all the benefits that dental implants offer, even if your jawbone is compromised. That solution is bone grafting, and here's what you need to know.
What Is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is a procedure in which our dentists add synthetic or natural bone material to your jawbone, where it will fuse and integrate as one structure over time. The process can take anywhere from three to six months for complete healing and reintegration. The result is a strengthened jawbone that is strong and healthy enough to support a dental implant successfully.
Why Is Bone Stability and Support Important?
Your jawbone supports the roots of your teeth, which keeps the bone healthy and stimulated, so it doesn't deteriorate. When you lose a tooth, you also lose its root, leaving your jawbone with nothing left to keep it stimulated. It immediately begins to disintegrate slowly, which can eliminate support for neighboring teeth and alter the appearance of your face.
Another condition that impacts bone health is periodontal (gum) disease. Gum disease is an inflammation and infection of the gums and bone that support your teeth. When it moves into its advanced phase (periodontitis), it destroys your teeth's support system. This can leave your jawbone deteriorated and unable to support an implant. Gum disease is also the leading cause of tooth loss in adults over 30 in America.
Because a dental implant in Maple Ridge replaces your root and your tooth, it's understandable that you need enough healthy jawbone to support your new tooth. Bone grafting rebuilds your bone, returning to it the size, strength, and stability it needs to help a tooth implant function well. Also, dental implants may be able to outlive you with excellent home care and routine dental checkups to ensure their health.
The Anatomy of a Dental Implant
Now that we know why bone support is vital for the success of tooth implants, let's take a look at how they function.
A dental implant is brought together with three critical components that must work together for success:
- The implant: The implant is the titanium post that our dentists carefully place into the patient's jawbone during a simple surgical procedure. Since titanium is biocompatible, it allows the implant to fuse and integrate with your bone through a process known as osseointegration, so it can take the place of your tooth root. Osseointegration typically takes three to six months to complete, and then your implant is ready to support your new restoration.
- The abutment: An abutment is an attachment that connects your implant to your new tooth and holds it securely in place.
- The restoration: For a single-tooth replacement, our dentists customize a porcelain crown for your smile. If we're replacing multiple teeth, we may use two to four implants to support a dental bridge or denture.
Bone grafting has made dental implants accessible to almost every patient who would like to enjoy their benefits.
The Advantages of Dental Implants in Maple Ridge, BC
Dental implants offer several benefits for your smile that other tooth replacement options don't:
- The look, function, and feeling of a natural tooth
- Restored ability to eat and smile with confidence and ease
- Protection for the health of your jawbone
- A 95 percent success rate
- Excellent longevity with the potential to last a lifetime
- Ease of care since you can brush and floss as you usually would
- The versatility to replace one or multiple teeth
- Could be a better long-term investment over an option that will need replacing over the years
Now you understand why dentists call dental implants the gold standard in tooth replacement!
Are You a Candidate for Tooth Implants in Maple Ridge?
If you'd like to learn more about what's possible for your smile, our dentists would love to speak with you. We can make dental implants a reality for patients even if they've suffered severe bone loss due to trauma or gum disease.
The first step is to schedule an evaluation with our Maple Ridge dentists, where we'll spend time discussing your goals and gathering information about your smile and dental health. At Meadow Ridge Dental Centre, we use leading-edge technology to help us plan your implant treatment.
A thorough examination and x-rays give our dentists a picture of your general health and bone structure. From there, we can create a personalized treatment plan to help you reach your smile goals considering your schedule and budget.
You can book an evaluation online or call our team at (604) 467-5944. Your healthy new smile is just a phone call or click away!