Advances in Dental Implants

Resorting to dental implants when there is little bone

Often, when a patient comes to a dental clinic to ask if they can use dental implants to support a fixed dental prosthesis, they receive the answer that they do not have enough bone to place them and that they first need to undergo bone regeneration surgery. Nowadays this is not always true, since with the latest advances it is possible to place dental implants even when there is very little residual bone in the mandible and maxilla.

Years ago the patient had no choice but to accept this answer and undergo painful surgery, but today it is not necessary. In these cases it is advisable to get a second medical opinion from a professional with up-to-date knowledge and training in the latest technologies. Nowadays, most dental implant placement procedures do not require bone regeneration, and if they do, it is usually minimal.

Advances in the placement of dental implants

The dental implants used today are stronger, narrower and shorter in length than those used years ago, so that their placement and integration are faster and higher success rates are obtained. It is now possible to have dental implants even when there is very little bone in the mandible or maxilla, so a large number of patients benefit from the latest advances. The number of surgeries required is reduced, as well as the pain and inflammation they cause. The economic cost and duration of treatment are also reduced.

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With the quality of materials and implant design available today, performing maxillofacial surgery to elevate the maxillary sinus or bone grafts from the patient himself should be exceptional. Implants with a size of 6 and 8 mm in height, and even those as small as 4 mm, have shown high success with a duration of about 9 to 16 years. At 5 years, the latter have a success similar to that of longer implants. Also those implants with a current diameter of 3.3 mm are just as resistant as those with a wide diameter.

In any case, the effectiveness of these advances in oral implantology still depends to a large extent on the patient’s responsibility in taking care of his or her oral health. It is essential to visit the dental clinic for regular professional check-ups and maintenance, maintain excellent oral hygiene and abstain from tobacco use.