The jaw bone plays a critical role in dental implant treatment. The implant posts require strong, dense bone to support the implant. If a patient were to receive an implant without the necessary jaw bone health, there can be severe complications such as a lack of stability, receding gums, or increased risk of infection. Any of these issues can lead to total failure of the dental implants.

Several conditions can put jaw bone health at risk. For example, when a tooth is lost and not replaced, the bone in that area no longer receives stimulation from chewing forces. Over time, this lack of stimulation leads to bone resorption (shrinking and thinning of the bone). This shrinking begins within a few months and the longer a tooth is missing, the greater the bone loss is likely to be.

Periodontal Disease or Gum Disease is also a leading cause of poor jaw bone health. Advanced cases lead to damage to soft tissue (gums), but also damage to the bone around the teeth. Left untreated, Periodontal Disease can cause bone loss to large areas of the jaw.

Trauma from an injury, long-term removable denture or bridge use, and infections can also lead to poor bone health. Lifestyle and medical conditions are also frequent factors in deteriorating health of the jaw bone. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and osteoporosis are common risk factors. Then there are natural issues that can impact jaw bone health. Some patients have naturally thin jaw bones or genetic or developmental conditions which result in poor jaw bone health.

A healthy, dense jaw bone ensures that the implant posts can fuse securely with the bone in a process called osseointegration. If the bone is too thin, weak, or shallow, the implant may not anchor properly, increasing the risk of failure. In cases of poor jaw bone health, our doctors will often suggest a treatment that will improve the health of your jaw bone so that you may receive dental implants. The most common treatments that improve bone health are bone grafting, sinus lift, and ridge augmentation.

Bone Grafting- placing bone in the jaw to encourage your body to regenerate bone tissue. Over time, this produces a stable foundation to receive implants.

Sinus Lift- One of the most common areas of reduced bone density is near the sinus cavity around the upper back teeth. A sinus lift procedure gently raises the sinus floor and adds bone grafts to create the necessary height and density.

Ridge Augmentation- Some people have narrow jaw bones. For these patients, bone grafts can be added to the ridge of the jaw to add volume to that area.