More patients are choosing dental implants over other forms to replace missing teeth, but what happens when you suffer from substantial bone loss? According to one experienced oral surgeon Bel Air MD residents can still have implants.
Choosing Dental Implants with Bone Loss
Zygomatic implants are a relatively new method of inserting dental implants, using elongated anchors that are placed in the upper jaw and then attached to the zygomatic cheekbone. This special dental implant is used when regeneration of the jaw bone is not possible. Patients can experience significant bone loss from a number of reasons, like periodontal disease, long-term wearing of dentures, and even age can cause re-absorption of the bone.
Normally, dentists recommend bone grafts, but in many cases, the bone loss is so significant that even bone grafts will not suffice. Now when this occurs, patients are not limited to dentures. They can choose to still have dental implants.
One of the main consequences of the disappearance of teeth is the loss of dental bone. After a few weeks, the destruction process begins, and the longer it takes to replace the teeth, the greater the degradation of the bone. Traditionally, dental implants have relied on the density and height of the bone, in which the implant is secured. However, with zygomatic implants, this is no longer necessary.
The Difference in Implants
The essential difference between these newer dental implants and the conventional ones is that the zygomatic dental implants are attached to the cheekbone, and can be used even when there is diminished bone. The conventional implants require enough bone so that they can be anchored. This also translates into these newer implants becoming more readily used. This has become the best alternative for patients with significant atrophy of the jawbone.
When Should You Choose Zygomatic Dental Implants?
While it still has not become the most commonly-used technique, it does offer advantages to a wider array of patients. Yet, the treatment plan for zygomatic implants is challenging, and can be a bit invasive. For those patients interested in these implants, they must attend a consultation and then receive a recommendation from a professional oral surgeon.
Like the traditional dental implants, this type allows for same day implants, immediately, therefore, patients have the benefit of leaving the dental office with a fixed denture. However, surgeons typically affix a temporary prosthesis while the gum and bone tissues have had time to heal.
Not all specialists deal with zygomatic dental implants. This type of prosthesis must be prescribed by a specialist, because this is a remedy for those special cases where patients lack a great deal of bone in the upper jaw.
Is It Safe?
This implant technique is a highly documented method of restoring teeth, and recognized by the scientific and dental community. It allows the patient to enjoy fixed teeth immediately after surgery, in the most complex of cases.
Thanks to the advances in the dental industry, the zygomatic implants offer an effective solution for those patients who have both, the absence of teeth, and a significant loss of bone. Now patients have more choices, which improves their overall quality of life.