Bone Regeneration
Kansas City, MO
 If you have been told that you do not have enough bone to hold dental implants, you should find out what can be done to compensate for bone loss. We, at Fay Periodontal Associates, do all that we can to help patients realize better outcomes when it comes to implant solutions. If you do not have enough supporting bone, we can use one of several bone grafting procedures to encourage bone regeneration in patients.
What Leads to Bone Loss?
To understand bone regeneration better, you have to learn what leads to bone loss first. Bone loss may occur as the result of gum disease, a missing tooth, an injury, infection, or misalignment. For example, gum disease can eat away at the bone. This happens when bacterial plaque and calculus accumulates.
A misaligned or missing tooth may reduce the pressure used while biting or chewing, which can trigger bone loss as well. Any traumas or injury can also misalign a tooth and lead to infection, which, in turn, can degrade the bone. Viral infections or bacterial infections may enter the bone tissue around the teeth, which will degenerate the bone.
What Happens During a Bone Graft?
Bone grafting, which regenerates the bone, is normally done as part of gum disease surgery, or during a tooth extraction. To conduct a bone graft, we place a biocompatible graft material into the space where there is no bone. The grafting material, in turn, promotes bone tissue regeneration. As the bone regenerates and expands in the space, the bone graft material dissolves into the circulation.
How Is Bone Loss Diagnosed?
To diagnose bone loss, we use 3D CT scans to get an overall view of the bones surrounding the teeth. This will help us determine where we need to graft the bone. The CT scanner produces 3D 360-degree images of the whole jawbone and reveals the bone density. We can view the images from any angle and magnify areas that are hard to see. From these images, we can determine a course of treatment to regenerate the bone.
The Main Reasons Bone Grafting Is Done
Because bone loss leaves teeth unstable, bone grafting can help stabilize teeth and support implant procedures. Bone grafting can even be performed to replace a root inside a molar and provide the required support for the tooth. If a tooth is extracted, a tooth socket graft helps maintain the bone density and volume. Doing so will build back the ridge to the right width and height, thus creating a foundation for future implants.
If you have lost teeth in the back upper jaw, bone loss normally occurs on the floor of the sinus and in the alveolar ridge. When this happens, it can cause the bone to thin, thus making it incapable of supporting a dental implant. To rebuild the bone, we add graft material under the membrane of the sinus wall. When this graft is performed, it is called a sinus lift.
Schedule an Appointment
If you have experienced bone loss that has affected your ability to obtain dental implants, we, at Fay Periodontal Associates, can help you meet your dental and implant goals. Don’t allow a lack of bone density to keep you from getting dental implants. Check out your dental options. Call us today at (816) 561-8466 to schedule an appointment and consultation. |
