Jaw Bone Loss and Bone Augmentation
bone atrophy, tooth restoration, dental implants Gdansk
Bone loss is also known as osteoporosis, which is a bone disease that develops when bone density and bone mass decreases, or when the structure and strength of bone changes. It is a condition that can lead to difficulty undergoing implant treatment. Is it a contraindication to dental implantation? Learn more
Bone loss in the Maxilla and Mandible - what is it?
When chewing food, our teeth roots and thus the bone around them are constantly subjected to occlusal forces and therefore continuously stimulated. When, for various reasons, the tooth root falls out and this pressure is missing, the bone begins to recede and deteriorate. The “unused” tissue atrophies, just as muscles atrophy when they are not stimulated by exercise or movement.
Atrophy (bone loss) is a process that develops over time. The bone gradually loses mass and density in places where the tooth is missing along with the root. To put it simply, the bone deteriorates and recedes around the place of the missing tooth as a result of the extraction itself and due to lack of bone stimulation by the root in the future.
When does bone loss occur?
There are a number of causes that lead to bone loss. Bone loss happens as a natural process of aging, but also up to 50% of bone volume can be lost after a tooth extraction . It is individual and can happen faster or slower, depending on the individual and the area of the jaw. The upper jawbone is softer and has less density and the bone loss occurs is faster. However, placing an implant immediately after extraction, if possible, counteracts the loss of bone mass and loading it with a crown afterwards restores bone stimulation and allows for the maintenance of the normal function of teeth and bones.
Factors that influence bone loss:
- loss of teeth roots,
- soft tissue (gum) diseases (periodontitis),
- bone disease (osteoporosis),
- cancers and their treatment inflammation and infection of tooth, gum or bone,
- injuries (mechanical damage),
- hormonal disorders,
- smoking,
- calcium and vitamin D deficiency,
- medicines that affect bone metabolism.
Health consequences of bone atrophy
Bone loss is not beneficial to oral health. It may lead to problems related to chewing food or speaking clearly, we can suffer from temporomandibular pain or headaches. Bone loss can also affect our appearance – the skin becomes less tight and wrinkles appear. Another result may be the displacement or loss of subsequent teeth, as those adjacent to the missing tooth lose stability, may become loose and start moving, fall out or tilt towards missing tooth space, which may lead to malocclusion and lack of space for implant-prosthetic restoration without prior orthodontic “braces” treatment.
Implant treatment and bone loss
Significant bone loss may hinder implant placement, but does not rule it out. If there is too little bone in terms of height or width to support an implant securely, or if there is insufficient bone density, the implant may be unstable when placed in the bone and may fail to integrate properly with the bone. Fortunately, there are methods and techniques that allow us to regenerate and rebuild lost bone and supporting tissue through bone augmentation procedures.
However, there are also methods that allow you to restore your smile despite partial bone loss without bone augmentation(e.g. All on 4 Smile). They consist of placing an appropriate number of implants in planned positions of the maxilla or/and mandible where the is still sufficient bone, and attaching prosthetic work to them.
At Project Smile, before beginning the treatment, the dental surgeon assesses the condition of the bones after having performed a 3D CBCT (computed tomography) scan, and plans the best course of treatment for the patient. We are constantly monitoring for new developments in this field of dentistry and are introducing the latest internationally proven treatment methods in our office.
Implant treatment and bone loss
Bone loss can be diagnosed by clinical and radiological examination. The dentist assesses the condition of the jawbone in terms of height, width and density.
Bone augmentation
Bone augmentation are procedures used in dental surgery to increase the volume, height or width of bone in the area of bone loss where implant(s) are planned to be placed. Bone augmentation procedures are performed when there are deficiencies in bone tissue as a consequence of teeth loss, infections, mechanical damage or other factors.
Following bone augmentation, the patient has the required amount of bone tissue, enabling the safe placement of implants. It is an important tool in the field of implantology, ensuring effective reconstruction of the bone structure in order to achieve a long-lasting and stable effect.
Bone augmentation methods
A bone augmentation procedure which aim is to supplement the lack of bone tissue in a given area. It uses a variety of techniques to ”rebuild” bone structure in places where its amount is insufficient for implant placement.
The sinus is an airspace within the upper jaw (maxilla) above the back molar teeth which gets gradually bigger with age. A sinus lift is a procedure to increase bone volume in the upper jaw by lifting the bottom of the sinus therefore also known as sinus floor elevation. The goal of the sinus lift is to graft extra bone into the maxillary sinus, so more bone is available to safely support dental implants.
Reasons to choose Project Smile
Can’t wait to see the results of the makeover? With DSD you can see what your smile will look like after the procedure!
In our clinic, we use the Digital Smile Design (DSD) approach. This allows us to present a visualization of your smile before starting treatment. Thanks to this solution, you can be sure that the final effect will meet your expectations.
In addition to this, DSD is a helpful tool for our doctors, as the system helps us plan the treatment and communicate all the details to the team of specialists who will design your new smile.
High quality of services is one of the many aspects that we put emphasis on. We cooperate with the Wiligała Laboratory, which creates individual elements for our patients.
Experienced technicians design bridges, crowns and other prosthetic elements based on the guidelines we provide.
In the clinic we use Neodent implants, which belong to the Swiss Straumann Group.
For our patients, this is not only a guarantee of quality, but also a safeguard in the event of damage. Implants of this brand are known all over the world, so if you need to replace the implant, then you can also do it in your country.
Our goal is not only to restore the function and aesthetics of the smile, but also to provide comfort and confidence to our patients. Our mission is: “We create smiles that change lives”. In our clinic, we use innovative technologies and materials to ensure the safety and effectiveness of treatments. Our team consists of experienced and qualified doctors who constantly improve their qualifications and take care of the health of patients visiting our clinic.
We make sure that our patients feel comfortable and cared for at every stage of treatment. We invite you to familiarize yourself with our offer and make an appointment for a consultation. With us you will regain a beautiful and healthy smile!
