CAN I GET DENTAL IMPLANTS IF I HAVE OSTEOPOROSIS?

Dental implants have become a go to choice for missing tooth’s replacement in recent times. But do you know that assessment of your overall medical condition is important before planning the implant placement procedure? In this blog we will be talking about one such medical condition known as osteoporosis. If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis and are wondering whether you’re a good candidate for dental implant here’s everything you need to know. But before we delve more deeply into the topic let me share the good news, that is Dental implants are an effective and safe option for your missing tooth’s replacement if you have osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bone density decreases. Your bones may become weak and more prone to fractures. The condition is commonly seen in women at their postmenopause, but can also occur in men. To understand osteoporosis better let us first understand how the bones behave in our body. Let's take an example to help you understand better! Think of your skin. When you get a small cut on your skin the region soon repairs itself in a span of a few days, but how does that happen? Ever thought of it? Our bodies are so brilliantly made that it has this beautiful ability to repair itself. Even with a small cut on skin the body repairs itself with new cell formation. This is how skin rejuvenates itself, the old cells are sloughed off and new cells are constantly formed in the place of old cells.

The same happens in the bone in a given time, the old bone cells are broken down and new bone cells are formed. This process of replacing old bone cells (osteoclast) with new bone cells (osteoblast) is called bone remodeling.

In people with osteoporosis this process of bone remodeling gets disturbed. The bones that break down are more than the number of new bones being formed which makes the bone softer, weaker and brittle.

You must have seen honeycomb, that's exactly how our bone is structured but in cases with osteoporosis the holes of this honeycomb structure widens, decreasing its density making it more prone to fracture.

Techniques for placing dental implants if you have osteoporosis: Dental implant placement needs to be managed differently if you have osteoporosis. With advancements in implant placement procedures various techniques have been developed to deal with this condition. These include;

• Bone grafting
• Bone compression
• Bone densifying
• Connecting teeth
• Zygomatic implants

1. Bone grafting:

A bone grafting may be done prior to your dental implant placement to help add volume and density to the area of your jawbone where implant needs to be placed. After the bone graft is placed it acts as a scaffold on which bone tissue grows and regenerates.

Sometimes your implantologist may combine your dental bone graft with platelet rich fibrin (PRF) which contains growth factors to initiate a better healing of your jaw bone. PRF is made from a sample of your own blood which reduces its rejection from your body and hence helps better at tissue regeneration.

2. Bone compression: In individuals with normal bone health dental implant is placed by drilling a small hole into the jawbone. But if you have osteoporosis the technique of bone compression may be used to help your implant bond better with bone and be more stable.

In this technique a dental implant with increased diameter is pressed directly into your jawbone. This helps increase the functionality of the implant insertion site and also makes the bone compact aiding in better implant stability in your jawbone.

However, this technique has a little downside to it as excessive bone compression during implant insertion can lead to bone necrosis (bone death) in the area of implant placement because of damage caused to the normal blood circulation in that region.

3. Bone densifying: It is a specialized bone preserving technique wherein bone densifying bur is used to cut the bone during your implant placement procedure. By using these specialized bone cutting burs the bone gets compacted during drilling which leads to increase in the density of bone in the region of implant site. This increases the stability of your dental implant as thicker bone provides better firmness.

4.Connecting teeth: If you have a healthy jaw a single implant would have been sufficient to replace your missing tooth. But if you have osteoporosis, implantologists may often adopt a different approach where they use the teeth adjacent to your missing tooth as a support and use it as a bridge to support your implant tooth. It’s like the adjacent teeth are splinted together on either side of your implant tooth to form a strong bridge. This not only increases the stability of your dental implant but also increases its longevity.

5. Zygomatic implants:

This is basically not a change in technique but rather a change in the type and approach of implant placement. If you need an implant in your upper jaw and are dealing with issues such as the stabilization of the implant in your upper jawbone like in osteoporosis you can choose to go with zygomatic implants as your treatment option.

These are implants that take support from your zygomatic bone (cheekbone) rather than taking support directly from your upper jawbone. As the cheekbone is denser as compared to the jawbone it provides a stronger base for your implant placement. Also the length of these zygomatic implants are longer providing better anchorage and support.

Are you under Bisphosphonates for your osteoporosis treatment; let’s know more about it:

Bisphosphonates are the prescription medications for osteoporosis that are given to you to help treat bone thinning by building up your bone’s density which in turn lowers your risk of getting bone fractures. But it has been found that in rare cases they may cause osteonecrosis (death of bone tissue) of the jaw, which can lead to failure of the jawbone to heal.

Worried about how to deal with this issue? We got you sorted! The incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw is relatively low as compared to the benefit it provides you for your osteoporosis condition. All you have to do is inform your implantologist that you are on this medication so that they can thoroughly take all the important examinations and if required consult your healthcare professional to coordinate the timing of bisphosphonate therapy during and after your dental implant surgery.

Despite such challenges, the advancements in implant technologies and techniques along with all the benefits that bone augmentation procedures now provide us, have made it possible for you to have dental implants as your missing tooth’s replacement option even if you have osteoporosis. All these procedures and techniques have made the treatment plannings more precise as per your specific needs giving you the best possible results.

Post implant care:

Maintaining good oral hygiene becomes mandatory after your dental implant procedure. Proper brushing and flossing decrease plaque buildup and help prevent infection around your implant decreasing your chances of getting peri-implantitis. You can use a soft bristle toothbrush along with non-abrasive toothpaste to clean around your implant.

Don’t forget to visit your dentist every 6 months for professional teeth cleanings and follow up check-ups of your implant tooth or your mouth in general.

If you are interested to know more about whether you are a suitable candidate for dental implants with osteoporosis or any other medical condition, feel free to schedule an appointment with our implantologist at Realtooth with expertise and experience of 20 years in the field of dental implant placements.

Equipped with the most recent and advanced technologies we at Realtooth provide the best care for your dental implant treatment with us. Visit us at Realtooth or book an appointment online with our experts now!