412-253-2570
Dental implants are an outstanding option to replace missing or damaged teeth. However, despite a desire to quickly restore smiles, not every patient is imediately prepared for dental implants. That being said; we see many patients who come to us with specific conditions that present challenges to dental implant placement. Two of the most common of these problems are gum recession and bone deterioration in the jaw area. When this happens, supplemental procedures may be needed before dental implant placement. Continue reading to learn more about these conditions and how supplemental procedures can help.
Bone Deterioration
Maxwell is a 64-year-old male patient with seven teeth missing in his upper jaw. The teeth were lost in a car accident nearly 30 years ago. After the accident, Maxwell chose dentures because they were an inexpensive and quick option. Through the years, the dentures have allowed him to eat and smile, but his jawbone has flattened over time to a thin ridge. Now, after exploring his current options, he wants a more permanent solution so he can get rid of his dentures and move on to a more natural-looking alternative.
What Can Patients Do If They Have Bone Deterioration?
In the above case, Maxwell’s jawbone condition had become flattened after years of denture wear. In addition to the bone flattening, his face has become sunken and he looked years older than he actually was. In the past, dental implants would not have been available to patients like Maxwell and he would have been forced to wear dentures for the rest of his life. But today, there are options that fix this problem. One of the most commonly used supplemental procedures is bone grafting. This procedure adds necessary volume to the jaw in places where healthy and dense bone is necessary.
Bone Grafting
To eliminate bone deterioration and strengthen a flattened jawbone after tooth loss, a surgery was created to help rebuild sufficient jawbone volume. Early procedures were designed to help patients wear dentures comfortably and chew properly. However, the procedures were often ineffective, painful, and unsuccessful. Later efforts were more successful and much less painful. Now, patients like Maxwell can get bone or tissue grafting right in the doctor’s office in just a few short visits.
Gum Recession
Nancy is a 44-year-old female patient with four teeth missing in her lower jaw. The teeth were lost in an accident nearly a decade ago. After her accident, Nancy chose a bridge because it was a cheap and quick tooth replacement option. Her bridge has allowed her to chew and smile normally, but her gums beneath the missing teeth have receded over the last ten years. Now, after exploring her current options, she wants a more permanent solution so she can get rid of her bridge and stop the process of gum recession.
What Can Patients Do If They Have Gum Recession?
Sometimes in patients like Nancy, tooth replacement treatment can cause gums to recede leaving sensitive areas of tooth root exposed. This can be painful and increase the risk of infection, disease, and decay. Tissue augmentation can be helpful in these instances since it has proven extremely successful in helping make gum tissue resistant to recession.
Tissue Augmentation
When tissue augmentation is needed, a tissue graft is harvested from the patient’s palate using a small incision at the same time the dental implant is being installed. The specially harvested graft material will then be placed in the prepared area. The resulting tissue graft then preserves the necessary soft tissue and makes the gum tissues less likely to recede after oral surgery. Once this area has properly healed, the patient can be re-evaluated for dental implant candidacy.
See Our Advanced Technology
When it comes to determining if our patients need a supplemental treatment, we utilize some of the latest in advanced technology to accurately scan our patients, evaluate their oral health, and distinguish what treatments, if any, are needed to reach their smile goals.
You may have heard of the term “cone beam scan”, but may not know what that entails. These new x-ray machines actually use very little radiation. Also, instead of a side profile, they take a 360-degree picture of your skull and jaw, so that our doctors can see what’s under the skin with an accurate picture.
With this unique tool, we can see your jaw at every angle, determine where areas may be depleted in bone, where to accurately place the implant and more. We can identify the problem areas where a bone graft may be needed, as well as address any oral health issues that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. All of this helps in preparing the patient’s mouth for their dental implants, so that they can undergo osseointegration safely and successfully.
Come To Dugan and Sweeney Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery For Supplemental Procedures
In the past, insufficient bone or tissue density in the jaw could have prevented proper installation and healing of dental implants. But today, thanks to bone and tissue grafting, many patients who were previously unable, can now take advantage of dental implants. Here at Dugan and Sweeney Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery we are ready and waiting to help our patients in the Pittsburgh area and beyond with amazing dental implants. Call us today for a no-obligation consultation.
