Bone Health Matters Before Dental Implant Treatment
When you’re thinking about replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant, most of your attention is probably on the tooth you will eventually see. We have to think about what is underneath it too.
Unlike a bridge or removable denture, a dental implant is placed into your jawbone, where it serves as the foundation for your replacement tooth. That makes the condition of your bone an important part of determining whether an implant is appropriate and how treatment should be planned.
Why Does an Implant Need Bone?
Think about the relationship between a natural tooth and its root. The root extends into your jawbone and provides support for the tooth above it. A dental implant is designed to take on a similar role. We place the implant into the jawbone, and during healing, the surrounding bone gradually integrates with it.
This process creates the stable foundation needed to support the restoration above the gumline. Before placing an implant, we therefore need to understand whether there is enough healthy bone in the right location to provide that support.
What Happens to Bone After You Lose a Tooth?
Your jawbone is living tissue, and tooth roots provide the stimulation that maintains it. When you lose a tooth, you lose its root too. Without that stimulation, the bone that once supported the tooth can gradually change.
This is one reason the amount of available bone can differ significantly from one patient to another. Someone who recently lost a tooth will have a very different situation from someone who has lived with a missing tooth for many years. The location of the missing tooth, your individual anatomy, and your oral health can also affect implant planning.
Does Bone Loss Mean You Can’t Have an Implant?
If we find there isn’t enough bone for conventional implant placement, it doesn’t automatically rule out implant treatment. Depending on your situation, bone grafting may add or rebuild bone where you need more support. The graft then needs time to heal and become part of the foundation for future treatment. For some patients, this means implant treatment takes a little longer than originally expected, but that additional preparation can be an important part of creating the conditions needed for the implant.
Different Implant Approaches Can Have Different Bone Requirements
Another reason an individual evaluation matters is that replacing one missing tooth with a single implant is different from planning treatment for several missing teeth or an entire arch. At Smile Dental Clinics, implant options include single-tooth and multiple-tooth implants as well as full-arch solutions such as All-on-4 and All-on-X.
Planning Before Placement
Most patients think that replacing a missing tooth begins with placing the implant, but it really begins with understanding the foundation. We need to evaluate the missing-tooth area, the condition of the surrounding tissues, your available bone, your overall oral health, and what you ultimately want your replacement teeth to accomplish.
That information helps us answer important questions like:
- Are you ready for implant placement?
- Would additional preparation be helpful?
- Which implant treatment best fits your needs?
Bone Is Part of the Bigger Picture
You may never have thought about bone health before losing a tooth. Once dental implants enter the conversation, however, it becomes an important part of understanding your options. The good news is that you don’t need to determine on your own whether you have enough bone for an implant. That is what the evaluation and planning process is for.
At Smile Dental Clinics, we will take the time to look at your individual situation, explain what we find, and talk with you about the implant options that may be appropriate for you.
If you’re considering dental implants, schedule a consultation at our office located in Phoenix, AZ. We can evaluate your oral health and available bone, answer your questions, and help you understand what needs to happen before moving forward with treatment.
