Understanding Bone Loss and Dental Implants
If you’re considering dental implants to replace missing teeth, your oral surgeon will evaluate whether you have sufficient bone density to support the implant. When teeth are lost, the underlying jawbone begins to resorb — a process that can compromise implant success. This is where bone grafting becomes essential.
How Bone Loss Occurs
Your teeth’s roots stimulate your jawbone to maintain its density. Without this stimulation, the bone resorbs at about 25% in the first year after tooth loss. Factors that accelerate bone loss include:
- Multiple missing teeth or long-standing tooth gaps
- Severe gum disease
- Trauma or previous tooth extraction
- Smoking and certain medications
- Osteoporosis or other bone disorders
Signs You May Need Bone Grafting
- Collapsed facial profile: Your lower face appears shorter or sunken
- Thin jawbone: Minimal bone felt during clinical exam
- Difficulty wearing dentures: Poor fit due to bone loss
- Teeth shifting: Remaining teeth moving due to bone resorption
- Long time since tooth loss: Years without teeth accelerates bone loss
Diagnostic Imaging and Assessment
Advanced imaging — including CT scans and 3D cone beam imaging — provides precise measurements of your available bone height, width, and density. This technology allows our team to determine exactly how much grafting you’ll need.
Bone Graft Options
- Autogenous bone: Harvested from your own body — considered the gold standard
- Allograft bone: Processed human bone from a tissue bank
- Xenograft bone: Processed bone from animal sources, highly effective
- Synthetic bone: Lab-created materials that stimulate natural bone formation
The Timeline
After your graft is placed, you’ll typically wait 4-9 months for the bone to integrate. Only then can your oral surgeon place your dental implants. While this timeline is longer, it ensures your implants have a solid foundation that lasts decades.
Bone Grafting at Precision Oral Surgery
Our oral surgeons have extensive experience performing bone grafting procedures at our Greeley, Loveland, and Thornton offices. We provide honest assessments and create treatment plans tailored to your needs.
Ready to explore your implant options? Schedule a consultation with Precision Oral Surgery to learn whether bone grafting is right for you.
