Our principal dentist Dr Colin Neil has published an article on the national patient website for implant dentistry, click4teeth.com.  Dr Neil explains in the article how bone loss needn’t be an obstacle to having dental implant treatment.

Have I got enough bone for teeth implants?

A dental implant is inserted into the jawbone to replace a missing tooth root and is usually made of titanium, with a thread pattern and a tapered shape.  The implant supports a cosmetic crown that looks and feels like a real tooth.  One of the key requirements for dental implant treatment is having enough bone in your jaw.  The success of a tooth implant is partly dependent upon the foundation of bone that will support it.  A solid, reliable base is needed to anchor the implant. 

Dr Colin Neil explains, “If the bone in your jaw is not deep or wide enough, you may need bone grafting before dental implants are placed.  Chewing is a powerful action and can exert a lot of pressure on the jaw.  Implants replacing missing teeth need to be large enough to withstand the forces of chewing and there needs to be enough bone to support the size of implant.”

Insufficient bone volume or quality should not prevent most people from having dental implants.  There are augmentation procedures available to rebuild bone.  If your bone volume needs to be increased, it is well worth the extra time and effort involved.  A successful bone graft allows your jaw to be strong enough to support your dental implants and will greatly improve the outcome of the treatment.

The full article also covers:

• How has my bone been lost?
• Why is sufficient bone needed for implant placement?
• How is bone evaluated before implant placement?
• If I don’t have enough bone, what can be done?
• Where does the extra bone come from?
• Does bone grafting affect the duration of dental implant treatment?
• Successful bone grafting outcome

To read the full article, visit “Have I got enough bone for teeth implants.”