Use of Bone Replacement in Implant Procedures

Have you ever seen someone without there dentures in? Their face collapses inward. This is due to bone loss from the loss of teeth. This process starts as soon as even one tooth is missing.

Over a short period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth dissolves and shrinks. Similar to a bar of soap in the shower, the bone “melts” away once a tooth is removed. 40-60% of the bone is lost in the first six months to one year after a tooth is extracted!

Shortly after the loss of teeth, the jawbone rapidly shrinks.  Dental implants prevent and stop this continual bone loss. Even jaws like this can be rebuilt to have implants.

This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In these situations, most patients are not candidates for placement of dental implants. Today, we have the ability to grow bone where needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and esthetic appearance. If the bone is too thin or too short it must be replaced so an implant can be placed in the precise position of the tooth.