Dental Implants Can Stop Bone Loss
Physiologically, any bone in the human body is subjected to a remodeling activity consisting of apposition (creation) and reabsorption (loss).
Normally there is a balance between the two activities, but when resorption prevails over apposition, bone atrophy is witnessed.
At the level of the oral cavity, in the first 6 months after the fall or extraction of the dental elements, the bone that previously enveloped the root undergoes a marked resorption and then continues slowly but still constant over time.
Bone atrophy affecting the jaw bones can cause negative effects at various levels: both extraoral and intraoral.
From an extraoral point of view, bone resorption is able to significantly change the physiognomy of the face, since the perioral wrinkles (around the lip) increase and the distance between nose and chin is drastically reduced, making the face appear much more aged compared to the real age.
There are also intraoral alterations: the alveolar bone thins and shortens, causing consequences also at the level of the adjacent teeth.
The dental elements contiguous to the missing one, in fact, will tend to get closer while those present at the level of the opposite arch will undergo an apparent lengthening.
Classification of atrophies of the jaws
Class 1: alveolar ridge with the tooth in place;
Class 2: post-extraction socket, a condition that can be seen immediately after tooth extraction;
Class 3: rounded crest but of adequate height and thickness;
Class 4: knife-edge crest. Suitable height but insufficient thickness;
Class 5: flat crest with insufficient height and thickness;
Class 6: depressed or almost absent alveolar bone.
The bone density in our mouths, or anywhere else in the body, will progressively decrease if we don't put the bone under stress. The body has an innate intelligence of conservation and basic health for itself. If the body perceives that the bones of the jaw and jaw are not properly stressed, it will sort the minerals from that area to another area that has a greater need; the body does not throw anything away. This is one of the reasons that implants will help with bone loss.
You must always be sure that you can challenge your body gently but persistently. Whether it's working to avoid osteoporosis, maintaining muscle mass, or challenging our mental faculties with memory games or crosswords to challenge our cognitive function, the body grows stronger when it is (slightly) put into action and challenged.
What to do in case of bone resorption?
1. Normal implant placement
When bone atrophy is present but in a mild or moderate manner, the implantologist can proceed with the insertion of the implant without any type of pre-implant surgery. In this case, one of the most effective responses is immediate loading implantology. The key factor of the concept of immediate loading implantology is that of primary stability, which is based on the ability of the implant to remain immobile as soon as it is screwed into the bone.
2. Use of short implants
Another minimally invasive but not always feasible solution for those who have little bone and still want to benefit from immediate loading implantology is the application of short implants. Short implants can be defined as those with a length not exceeding 8.5 mm. The advantage of a short implant is that it can be inserted into a bone tissue of a few millimeters (in fact, 5-6 mm of bone is sufficient).