How Implants Prevent Bone Loss
Portland, OR
 Jaw and gum resorption requires immediate attention, or it can lead to serious dental problems such as loss of teeth, denture issues, and facial changes. The poor condition of bone and gum tissue can lead to tooth loss. The damaged tissues of the bone and gum can cause issues when you wear dentures. Your denture might become loose if the jawbone continues to shrink. Jaw resorption can also result in your lips to sink in, which causes facial changes over time.
There are a set of symptoms of tooth resorption, but not all of them are clear and noticeable. The symptoms of resorption include an increase in the space between the teeth, swelling of the gums, pain rooting from the inside of a tooth, bad breath, and bleeding gums.
Implants Provide Jawbone Support
If you or anyone you know is suffering from jaw and gum resorption, dental implants can help in providing a permanent treatment. Dental implants provide the support to your jawbone that it needs. If you suffer from tooth loss, the missing teeth cause a gap. This can create space for bacteria to develop, which can increase your chances of developing periodontal disease. It is important to replace missing teeth as soon as possible. Your jawbone can deteriorate by as much as 25 percent in just one year of having missing teeth.
Bone Grafts
If your jawbone isn’t strong enough to support dental implants, we can perform a bone graft prior to dental implant surgery. You will have a consultation at our office prior to your surgery, where you will discuss bone graft and tissue regeneration options. In addition, we will get x-rays of your jawbone structure to better plan the procedure and ensure that there are no risks going into the surgery.
On the day of your surgery, we will administer a general anesthetic so that you are asleep for the procedure. We will make the incision over the area where you need the bone graft. We will then shape the bone graft to fit the empty space and insert the graft. The graft can be held in its place through several methods, such as pins, screws, cables, plates, and wires. To finish, we will suture the incision.
Osseointegration
Dental implants are permanently placed into your jawbone. Dental implants are small titanium posts which fuse together with your jawbone. Through several months, a process called osseointegration occurs. This is essentially the fusing of the two. After osseointegration has taken place, the abutment and dental crown are ready to be placed on top of the dental implant.
Different Types of Dental Implants
Another reason dental implants are so popular is because they are so versatile. There are several different types of dental implants available. At our dental specialists will examine your teeth and mouth and inform you which type of dental implant would be best for you. This is primarily dependent on how many teeth you are missing.
Single Tooth Replacement
If you are missing just one tooth, we can surgically place one dental implant. A single dental implant consists of one implant, abutment, and crown.
Multiple Tooth Replacement
For those missing several teeth, and do not wish to have bridges or partial dentures, multiple teeth implants are a good choice. Here, we can place multiple dental implants wherever they are needed.
All-on-4® Treatment Concept
While multiple dental implants usually have six to eight titanium posts, the All-on-4 Treatment Concept is unique in that it has only four, two in the front, and two in the back.
Implant Supported Denture
An implant supported denture is the best of both worlds for some with missing teeth. While a dental implant is surgically placed, the denture that rests on top is removable. This is often a popular choice for individuals who have previously had traditional dentures.
Zygomatic Dental Implants
Not as common are zygomatic dental implants. While regular dental implants are placed into your jawbone, zygomatic dental implants are surgically placed inside your cheek. These types of implants are not performed as often.
Dental implants help prevent bone loss. If you have any missing teeth, please contact Malmquist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery today so we can guide you regarding dental implants and which option may be the best for you. (503) 446-6776
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