I’ve been in dentures for ten years. Now, I finally have some extra money and can get the dental implants that I have always wanted. However, my dentist hinted I may not have enough bone left to get the implants. Did it take me too long to save up?
Jamie
Dear Jamie,
While you have likely lost a lot of bone structure, that doesn’t mean you can’t have dental implants. However, it will require you get one additional procedure. Your body is designed to be as efficient with its resources as possible. When your teeth were first removed, your body recognized that and began to resorb the minerals in your jawbone in order to use them elsewhere in your body. You may have started noticing that it is getting harder to keep your dentures in place. It starts with slipping, eventually they will start falling out. Then, you won’t be able to wear them at all. In dental circles, this is known as facial collapse.
The good news is that there is a solution. You will need to have bone grafting done in order to build back up the lost bone structure. Once that is done and healed you can move forward with getting the dental implants.
You’ll be pleased to know that having dental implants in your jaw will signal to your body that you still have teeth. Because of that it will leave your new bone structure intact and you will no longer have to worry about facial collapse.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Williams.