Do Patients with Jawbone Atrophy Qualify for All-on-4® Dental Implants
After tooth loss, the jawbone will lose density unless something is done to stop it. All-on-4 dental implants replace a full arch of lost teeth with a stable, comfortable, implant-retained denture. Unlike other treatment options for tooth loss, All-on-4 implants are secured at a strategic angle in the front, densest portion of the jaw. As a result, bone grafting isn’t usually required.
Dr. Jose Valenzuela Jr. serves patients in Mexicali and those across the border with state-of-the-art technology, clinical excellence, and attention to patient comfort at our Los Algodones, Mexico, location. He offers All-on-4 implants to help patients feel healthier and more confident.
Here is a review of All-on-4 dental implants for bone atrophy.
How Does Bone Atrophy Occur?
Throughout a person’s lifetime, the jawbone continues to generate new tissue in response to the constant pressure on the tooth roots, which signals the body to provide the area with blood and nutrients. Any time old bone deteriorates quicker than new bone develops, reabsorption (net bone loss) happens.
Deterioration of the jawbone can stem from a variety of causes, including:
- Periodontal disease: Chronic gum infections directly affect the jawbone and connective tissue. Bacteria consume supporting gum and bone in the advanced stages of periodontal disease.
- Tooth loss: The tooth roots help stimulate bone growth. When the teeth are absent due to extraction or trauma, nothing stimulates the jawbone in that area. The longer tooth loss goes untreated; the more tissue loss occurs until the bone beneath the adjacent teeth is affected.
- Traditional prostheses: Traditional dentures and bridgework replace teeth, but they do not protect the jaw against atrophy. Without dental implants to replace the tooth roots, the area will not receive sufficient stimulation to receive needed nutrients.
- Bone conditions: Conditions that affect bone affect the jaw. Osteoporosis, tumors, Paget’s disease of bone, and osteomyelitis are common causes of jawbone atrophy.
When left untreated, jawbone atrophy can cause additional tooth loss and increase the visual signs of aging.
How All-on-4 Dental Implants Work
For traditional implant procedures, patients who experience bone atrophy must restore density to the jaw with a bone graft prior to getting implants. All-on-4 dental implants may eliminate the need for bone graft surgery in most cases.
For this procedure, the dentist places four dental implants as a support system for an entire row of prosthetic teeth (a full arch denture).
As part of treatment planning, computer-based diagnostics locate the areas of the jawbone with adequate density and volume to sustain implants. The strongest bone is usually near the front of the mouth.
For the actual procedure, the dentist strategically angles All-on-4 dental implants into the jaw for optimal stability. The implants act like solid teeth roots to permanently anchor a denture.
Without the need for bone grafting, the osseointegration that secures dental implants to the jaw can occur, without the body first having to heal from a bone graft. Patients can enjoy the positive effects of All-on-4 implants much sooner than if they’d undergone bone graft surgery.
All-on-4 Encourages Bone Growth
Dental implants provide the appropriate chewing pressure to stimulate bone cells again. This regrowth of cells preserves jawbone density and health. All-on-4 dental implants create a stable, natural-looking smile. Patients no longer have to endure loose, slipping dentures or needing to reline their prostheses.
Restore Bone Health Today
Patients with bone atrophy often choose All-on-4 dental implants to improve their quality of life. Call (928) 792-2156 or message us online to schedule an appointment with Dr. Valenzuela in Los Algodones, Mexico. We serve the surrounding Mexicali area.