You’ve been told you’re missing too much jawbone for dental implants. Maybe a dentist mentioned it years ago. Or perhaps you read about it online and assumed implants just aren’t an option for you anymore.
But bone loss doesn’t automatically disqualify you from getting implants. At Dental Excellence in Towson, Dr. Ousborne and Dr. Esterson have advanced prosthodontic training that allows them to help patients who’ve been turned away elsewhere.
Why Bone Loss Happens After Tooth Loss
When a tooth goes missing, something surprising happens in your jaw. The bone that once surrounded that tooth root no longer gets stimulation from chewing, so your body gradually starts to reabsorb it.
This process begins within just a few months of losing a tooth and continues over time. The longer you wait to replace a missing tooth, the more bone you may lose.
The Old Thinking About Implants and Bone Loss
For many years, dentists believed that significant bone loss meant implants were impossible. Without enough bone height or width, there was nowhere to securely place the titanium post. Patients were told their only options were bridges or dentures. Many simply gave up on the idea of implants altogether, assuming that door had permanently closed.
How Advanced Training Changes the Answer
Dr. Ousborne and Dr. Esterson aren’t general dentists who restore implants occasionally. They’re prosthodontists with years of advanced training focused specifically on restoring damaged and missing teeth.
This specialized training means they have solutions that other dentists may not offer. When they see bone loss, they don’t just see a problem; they see a problem they’re equipped to solve.
The Solution: Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is a procedure that rebuilds lost jawbone to create a stable foundation for implants. Your own bone, donated bone material, or synthetic options can be used to encourage new bone growth.
After the graft is placed, you typically wait several months while the graft fuses with your existing bone. Once healing is complete, you’re often a good candidate for implants just like any other patient.
Who Is a Candidate for Bone Grafting?
Most patients with bone loss are candidates for some form of grafting, but it depends on the specifics. The amount of bone loss, your overall health, and whether you smoke all play a role.
The only way to know for sure is to have a prosthodontist evaluate your unique situation. A simple exam and specialized imaging can reveal whether grafting is likely to succeed in your case.
What the Process Looks Like
If you’re a candidate, the process starts with the bone graft procedure itself. This is typically done with local anesthesia to keep you comfortable. After several months of healing, the implant placement happens in a separate visit. Then another healing period follows before we attach the final crown. Yes, it takes time, but the result is often a permanent, natural-feeling tooth.
Don’t Assume Implants Are Out of Reach
We’ve had patients walk through our doors who were told years ago that dental implants weren’t possible. Some had been living with uncomfortable dentures or avoiding photos because of a missing front tooth. After a thorough evaluation, many of those same patients left with a treatment plan that included implants. The technology and techniques available today are not the same as what existed five or ten years ago.
Ready to Find Out If Dental Implants Are Possible?
If you’ve been told you have too much bone loss for implants, we invite you to get a second opinion. Call our Towson office at (410) 514-6553 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ousborne or Dr. Esterson.
You might be closer to the smile you want than you think. Let’s take a look and find out.