Dental implants offer a stable, aesthetically pleasing answer for missing teeth—but you need to meet certain qualifications to get them. One of the most important qualifications is a solid foundation for the implants, which means you need sufficient jawbone density.
Unfortunately, you lose bone steadily after losing a tooth. Your tooth roots cause bone cell growth, but once they’re gone, the bone rapidly shrinks. That might leave you with too little jaw density for dental implants. However, at Nevada Dental Esthetics, located just off the Strip in Las Vegas, NV, Dr. Jorge Paez and our team won’t let a lack of bone hold you back. In today’s blog, we explain what your options are if you need dental implants but don’t have the bone required.
Why Bone is So Important for Dental Implants
Dental implants are titanium posts that are surgically placed into your jawbone. Implants need a solid mass of bone surrounding them for adequate stability, and that’s why a healthy jawbone is so critical for patients considering dental implants.
But many of our patients don’t have the bone they need. Fortunately, we have other options to help them get dental implants.
Bone Grafting for Dental Implants
If you don’t have the jawbone to support an implant, bone grafting can build up the bone. This procedure involves placing a powdered bone graft material where you lack bone.
This material creates a scaffold where your body can produce and deposit new bone cells. Over months, your body’s new bone attaches to the existing bone, building a solid new foundation for dental implants. Bone grafting ensures adequate bone for successful osseointegration, where the implant fuses with the jawbone.
Alternatives to Traditional Bone Grafting
In some cases, advanced techniques can be used as an alternative to bone grafting. These may include:
- Zygomatic Implants anchor in the cheekbone, not the jawbone. These implants are longer and thinner than conventional dental implants. You still need healthy bone (in this case, within the cheek) to get zygomatic implants. If you lack that bone, you could need a sinus lift (another type of bone grafting).
- Mini Implants are smaller than conventional dental implants and have toothpick-thin posts. They go through the gums to fit into the jawbone, while conventional dental implants go under the gum.
These alternatives offer options for patients who may not be ideal candidates for traditional implants or jawbone grafting techniques.
Dental Implant Options For Everyone in Las Vegas
Don’t give up if you’ve been told you don’t have enough bone for dental implants. At Nevada Dental Esthetics, we offer comprehensive solutions to help you restore your smile. Call us today at 702-737-3553 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Paez at our Las Vegas office.