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How does bone loss affect dental implants?


Dental implants are a fantastic way for individuals dealing with broken, decaying, damaged or missing teeth to perfect their smile for a natural look and feel. While more patients are ideal candidates for dental implants now than ever before, there are still certain factors that may decrease individual’s chances of undergoing the implant treatment. One such factor is bone loss.

The bones in our body act very similar to our muscles. When we exercise our muscles, they grow stronger and larger. The same holds true for bone. When it is exercised or stimulated (in the case of the jaw bone, when you chew food) it becomes stronger. On the other hand, when the bone isn’t stimulated (when patients have missing teeth) it can shrink or grow weaker. This is why dental implantation can help those with missing teeth.

Implants vs. Dentures

Removable denture wearers often don’t realize they are losing bone. Over time, the poor fit and function of the denture is often thought to be due to its age or wear of the denture’s teeth. But often dentures become ill fitting due to bone loss. As the jawbone deteriorates, the shape of the mouth changes which leads to ill-fitting dentures.

The connections between a tooth, or in this case an implant, create and preserve the size and shape of the jawbone. Bone needs the stimulation of the tooth roots to maintain its form, density, and strength. The normal chewing forces that are transmitted from the implant to the bone of the jaw can preserve the bone and keep it strong.

Bone Loss and Implants

Implants can help to prevent bone loss if placed in a timely fashion. For those patients that have incurred bone loss, the loss can effect the implant treatment. In order for dental implants to be placed, a certain quality and quantity of bone must be present in the jaw. This allows for proper implant stabilization. If patients have experienced bone loss due to age or inactivity, additional procedures such as bone grafting may be required before dental implants can be placed.

While bone loss can prevent patients from undergoing implant treatments, there are procedures that can help patients to experience implant success. If you feel bone loss may be a factor in your implant treatments, consult with your implant dentist today.