If you have previously been informed that you have insufficient bone to successfully receive dental implants, bone grafting and a sinus lift can help you gain that necessary support. At Prostho Endo Dental Group, each patient is provided with comprehensive planning for bone grafting and sinus lift treatments as thoroughly as we do every other stage of advanced restorative and endodontic treatments for patients in North Bethesda, MD. Replacing the bone necessary to receive dental implants does not just represent a phase of the process. It also helps create a sounder basis and improved long-term stability, allowing future restorations to operate more naturally.
Providing The Necessary Base For Successful Implant Procedures
A dental implant depends on the bone surrounding it for support, stability, and longevity. A missing tooth can lead to bone loss in that area over time, since the bone is not stimulated by tooth function. Additionally, the loss of bone can occur following trauma, infection, tooth loss, or previous periodontal therapy and extractions. Bone grafting may help our doctors replace missing bone in areas where the jawbone is not long, thick, or dense enough to properly support dental implants.
Prostho Endo Dental Group does not move ahead with the implant until the bone itself, the surrounding tooth structure, bite forces, and the ultimate dental prosthesis have been examined thoroughly. This helps ensure that the implant not only can be placed and secured, but that it will be located in the correct position to allow maximum restoration function and aesthetics.
Rebuilding The Bone Base For Long-Term Success
The effectiveness of a dental implant is linked to the amount of bone in the jaw that is present around it. Without enough surrounding bone, the success and stability of a dental implant can be compromised, or the final restoration cannot be fabricated properly. Rebuilding the bone can allow more force to be transmitted along the length of the implant, which provides protection to the implant and the health of the gum tissue.
Bone shape and density are also important factors. Although bone height may be sufficient, the shape may be irregular, and there may be insufficient density of the bone, increasing the number of challenges in providing an implant. A comprehensive exam is always required prior to the recommendation for bone grafting. Early identification of these issues is helpful as it will help in planning your grafting solution so that complications can be avoided.
Advanced Dental Imaging To Assist In The Treatment Plan
We use state-of-the-art dental imaging to assess the specific anatomy of the jaw and recommend the appropriate type of bone grafting, sinus lift treatment, or dental implant placement. Dental x-rays and 3D imaging allow our doctors to carefully analyze the bone, the size of your sinuses, nerves, teeth, and other adjacent structures.
Our dental team can use the data gained from your images to help determine where and how much bone will need to be reconstructed, and to plan for the ideal position for your dental implant or implants. In patients with complicated dental situations, 3D dental imaging and advanced x-rays are extremely important because they allow treatment to be designed around existing restorations, prior infection, existing bone deformities, and the long-term restorative goals that you may have.
Replacing The Bone That You May Have Lost
A patient’s particular needs for bone grafting will vary depending on the location of the missing tooth, the amount of bone present, and whether or not an implant will be able to be placed right away or later on. Bone grafting procedures that are commonly needed include:
- Socket preservation after the extraction of a tooth helps slow or prevent the shrinkage of the bone.
- Ridge augmentation to rebuild the width or height of the jawbone.
- Bone regeneration following an area of bone loss associated with a history of periodontal disease, infection, or previous tooth loss.
- A graft in areas where the existing bone does not have the proper dimensions or location to place an implant.
Our doctors will describe the reason why a particular procedure is suggested, and explain how that grafting procedure will fit into your total plan. This allows patients to comprehend why these steps are being recommended, instead of being told that another procedure is being performed.
What Is A Sinus Lift & When Is It Recommended?
A sinus lift is typically recommended when dental implants are needed in the upper jaw, and the maxillary sinuses are too close to the bone. This upper back area can have less-than-ideal bone height for implants, and the bone level can decline over time following the loss of upper back teeth for a long time. The sinus lift raises the sinus membrane and places bone graft material in the space between it and the bone, thereby adding vertical bone height to support an implant.
Although it may sound intimidating, it is a common procedure used to allow implant therapy to be completed in areas where, otherwise, there might not be enough bone. Prostho Endo Dental Group uses detailed images to help inform the planning for a sinus lift. As with all implant therapy, the team focuses on establishing the proper support needed for an implant that will be strong enough to meet its final treatment goal.
Planning Complex Cases For Implants
Some cases need a bone graft to provide adequate bone support to the jaw due to the fact that the case may include more than one missing tooth, may include a past treatment failure, or may be due to bone loss due to infection. The case may have also involved bone loss over many years. These cases may need a more complex planning process to consider surgical and restorative elements.
Since Prostho Endo Dental Group is experienced in treating complex cases, including tooth preservation as well as the replacement of missing teeth, the doctors at Prostho Endo Dental Group consider the potential benefits to a patient of attempting to retain a tooth before moving toward a possible extraction. They will also determine how best to time a case where endodontic care, extraction, bone grafting, and implant placement may all be needed.
If you are looking for an implant dentist in North Bethesda, MD, this kind of advance planning can help the treatment process be easier to plan and follow over time. Instead of addressing multiple issues separately, each step is planned with the ultimate result in mind.
What To Expect While Healing From A Sinus Lift
The time needed for healing after a bone graft or sinus lift depends on the size of the graft material placed, the treatment site, and whether any other treatments were also performed the same day as the procedure. Depending on the specific case, patients may need a few months for the bone graft to heal and mature before an implant can be placed, or in some situations, the graft may need to be placed before the implant.
During recovery, patients will be given specific instructions regarding diet, oral hygiene practices, activity, and medications. They will also be scheduled for a follow-up appointment. During this time, patients may be uncomfortable. There may be some discomfort, swelling, or pressure in the treatment area, but this can be managed. We will follow the progress of healing as the bone and sinus heal, and we want to be sure that you know what is considered normal, what should resolve, and when to contact the office.
The goal of the healing process is not only a comfortable period of treatment recovery, but for the patient and the graft site to heal in a way that is conducive to a healthy outcome of the implant procedure. By allowing time for the grafted bone to heal properly, we are better able to establish a stable implant and a more predictable future treatment result.
Planning For Long-Term Implant Results
Bone grafting and sinus lift treatment can be an essential part of establishing long-term success for a dental implant. The procedures performed at Prostho Endo Dental Group are never just viewed as one part of treatment. Instead, they are considered as one element of the overall path toward improved restorative function and stability, which results in long-lasting treatment outcomes.
Our doctors are prepared to discuss your individual treatment needs and the specific details about how treatment might be approached for your specific situation. For those who are unsure if they have enough bone in the jaw to receive dental implants, a consultation is the first step in learning more. By taking the time to plan, use advanced imaging tools, and coordinate your care for each step of the way, Prostho Endo Dental Group helps patients get started on implant treatment planning with a sense of knowledge and confidence.