Replacing Bone For Dental Implants
Periodontal disease can cause a number of dental issues including gum recession and bone loss. When the jaw bone begins to deteriorate, teeth can become loose and even fall out and the shape of your face may change. For patients who are hoping to receive dental implants to replace missing teeth, proper bone structure is necessary to keep the implant in place. For patients with severe gum disease, a bone graft may be a way to help encourage bone growth before an implant is placed.
Periodontal Disease and Bone Loss
Gum disease develops in stages starting with gingivitis and progressing into periodontitis. Periodontitis is a chronic bacterial infection in the gum tissue and gum pockets of the teeth. Periodontitis can develop from poor oral hygiene or even certain medications and medical conditions. Patients with a genetic predisposition for periodontal disease may require more frequent cleanings by their dental office than the standard twice a year in order to keep everything healthy and prevent gingivitis from developing.
By the time periodontitis has developed, the infection in the gum pockets will cause the gum tissue to pull away from the tooth roots, causing them to become exposed and extremely sensitive. This can be very painful for patients and could require a gum graft to heal the area. Left untreated, the infection will only progress and can eventually lead to bone deterioration in the jaw. When the jaw bone begins to break down, teeth will become loose from the lack of support and can eventually fall out. Periodontal disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adult patients, however there are surgeries available to help heal the different aspects of deterioration in the mouth.
Gum disease presents with a number of symptoms that you should be aware of to keep your mouth as healthy as possible! Symptoms of gum disease include:
- Halitosis, or chronic bad breath
- Tooth sensitivity
- Pain when chewing
- Loose teeth
- Swollen and puffy gums that bleed during flossing
Bone Graft With Periodontal Disease
A bone graft is a procedure in which either synthetic bone or donor bone, which can be harvested from another area of the patient’s mouth or body, is implanted into the jaw to help stimulate bone regeneration and provide a better support for the teeth. For a bone graft procedure, a Periodontist will make a small incision in the gum tissue at the area being treated in order to access the affected bone, removing any infection in the gum tissue as they go. The bone graft is then placed and sutured into place and the gum tissue is closed. The bone graft will integrate with existing bone structure and help rebuild the job and will be able to better support the teeth or any dental prosthesis that may be used.
A bone graft is often used as a preparatory procedure before a dental implant is placed. A dental implant requires sufficient bone structure in order to be successful and if the patient does not have enough natural bone structure, a bone graft can make a successful treatment possible. A bone graft will need a couple of months of healing time to make sure that the new bone material is fully integrated with the natural bone of the jaw before any other work can be done. If a patient only needs a small amount of bone added to an area that is intended to receive an implant, the graft may be able to be performed at the same time as the implant placement.
Types of Bone Grafts
There are a few different types of bone grafts available and what your doctor chooses to use will depend on material being used. Types of and grafts include:
- Alloplast: This bone graft uses synthetic material that contains calcium, phosphorus, and hydroxylapatite which is a natural mineral that is chemically similar to hard tissue.
- Autograft: Sometimes your doctor can take a piece of bone from the patient's hip or back of their jaw to graft into place.
- Allograft: This type of graft uses a piece in bone harvested from a human donor.
- Xenograft: Another type of donor bone graft, this one uses bone harvested from an animal, usually a cow.
Your dentist will determine what type of graft to use specifically for your case.
Regenerating Tissue in Patients With Periodontal Disease
In addition to a bone graft, some patients may also require a surgery to stimulate tissue regeneration. Sometimes, the doctor may place a membrane with the bone graft to help encourage tissue growth. A guided tissue regeneration, or GTR, small piece of mesh that your doctor will insert between the gum and bone. The mesh prevents the gums from growing into a new area where bone needs to develop. Bone graft, gum graft, and GTR are some of the more advanced methods that doctors can use to reverse the effects of periodontal disease.
Bone Loss Prevention
Gum disease is a common problem for many patients. There are a number of reasons that a patient may develop gum disease, it is not always from poor oral hygiene! Preventing gingivitis from developing into periodontal disease and risking the potential of bone loss is as simple as good oral hygiene, a healthy diet, and visiting your dentist regularly for professional cleanings. Prevention is key with oral health so speak with your Dentist as soon as possible if you are having symptoms of gum disease so they can help you learn how best to perform home care. They may advise that you have a deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing, to bring your teeth and gums back to a healthy state. After a deep clean, it is crucial that you continue to see your dentist every 3 to 4 months instead of twice a year for maintenance appointments.