Jawbone Issues That May Complicate Your Implant Surgery

A strong, healthy and adequate jawbone is necessary for a successful dental implant treatment. Therefore, any health condition affecting your jawbone may complicate your dental implant treatment. Here are some of the issues to be concerned about:

Bone Resorption

Bone resorption may occur if you have been missing your teeth for a long time. The loss of bone is mainly attributed to disuse atrophy. This is a condition in which your jawbone lacks the stimulation provided by teeth. This lack of stimulation leads to decreased blood supply, as well as reduced bone quality and quantity.

The risk of bone resorption is one of the reasons dentists advise those who extract their teeth to get implants as soon as possible. Packing (at the time of the extraction) the tooth socket with powdered graft material) also helps to prevent bone resorption.

Previous Surgical Procedures

Some surgical procedures, such as the removal of a cyst in the jawbone, may also complicate your dental implant process. Even some a difficult tooth extraction may damage the jawbone. Depending on the size and location of the bone that was removed, it may be difficult to find adequate bone density for anchoring the implant.

Jawbone Diseases

It will also be difficult to get an implant if you have jawbone diseases. You may not even know that you have a jawbone disease if it is asymptomatic or it's just beginning. For example, you may only realize you have a tumor in your jawbone when the dentist starts to examine your bone in preparation for the implant process. In such a case, you must treat the newly-discovered disease before proceeding with the implant schedule.

Periodontitis

Gingivitis is a form of gum disease whose main cause is poor oral hygiene. Untreated gum disease leads to periodontitis, a condition in which the gum tissues inflame and start to pull away from the tooth. After some time, the bacteria and bacterial toxins attack the tooth and damage the jawbone and the related connective tissues. Even the body's natural reaction to the toxins also contributes to the jawbone destruction. Prevent this by maintaining a high level of oral hygiene and treating any dental disease as soon as possible.

A jawbone complication doesn't necessarily preclude you from getting an implant. Your dentist will determine the nature of the problem and help you come up with an appropriate solution. For example, a bone graft may be the solution if you are dealing with inadequate bone quantity and quality.

To learn more about family dentistry, contact an office like Mooresville Dental Care. 

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