Why would I need a supplemental procedure?
Because dental implants are directly fused to your oral structures, it is important that these structures are healthy enough to handle this placement and the fusion that results from it. The most common reasons for why these procedures are required are:
Jawbone Deterioration
Not many people are aware of the fact that the jawbone requires constant exercise in order to stay healthy and strong. This exercise and stimulation comes from every bite you take and every word you say. Vibrations from these actions travel down your tooth roots and into your jawbone. But, when you lose a tooth, the area of the jawbone that tooth was connected to no longer receives the stimulation it needs to stay healthy, and will begin to deteriorate.
Gum Recession
Much like the jawbone, your gums are also at risk for deterioration. When you lose a tooth, and even before losing that tooth, it is possible for the gums to pull away from the roots, resulting in sensitivity and an increased risk for gum disease. Reasons for gum recession include:
- Aggressive Brushing: If you are brushing your teeth too roughly, then you could damage your gums, causing them to recede away from your teeth.
- Poor Oral Hygiene: Failing to properly maintain your oral health can result in tartar and plaque building up on your gums, causing their recession.
- Periodontal Disease: Periodontal disease directly attacks your gums, infecting them and damaging them to the point where they will deteriorate and recede.
Bone Grafting
For patients who are being kept from dental implants because of jawbone deterioration, we recommend treatment with bone grafting. This procedure used donated jawbone tissue, which is grafted to the deficient areas of your jawbone. Thanks to the same regeneration process that allows your jawbone to fuse to the implant fixture, your jawbone will be able to absorb and integrate this new tissue into itself. Thanks to bone grafting, patients with jawbone deterioration are not immediately disqualified from receiving dental implants.
Soft Tissue Augmentation
For patients who are being kept from dental implants due to gum recession, we can use a procedure called soft tissue augmentation to restore implant candidacy. This procedure uses bone tissue taken from another source, and grafts it to the deficient areas of your gums. As they heal, your gums will absorb this new tissue, using it to restore health and density.