Dentistry is advancing at a very great speed with new innovations and technology resulting in quick and precise treatment options and endless possibilities. Of which dental implant is one amongst them but not all patients are fortunate enough to undergo conventional dental implants due to deficient or little bone.
Due to financial burden, patients restore the teeth with denture or bridge but later wants to improve both the masticatory function and esthetics but there is deficient or little bone. Around 20% of the world’s population has atrophic or deficient maxillary bones owing to difficulty in implant placement. However with recent advances and technology, dental implants can be place easily even at such challenging situations.
For any procedure, first the dental professional will examine the overall oral cavity and make a diagnosis and determine the treatment plan based on both clinically and radiographically. The following are few treatment options in case dental implants need to be place in patients with little bone.
Bone grafts
Bone graft is one of the best treatment options for reconstruction of the missing bone and help to increase the bone volume for implant placement thereby help in anchoring dental implants to the newly formed bone. For the procedure autograft, allograft or xenograft along with Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF, a 2nd generation Platelet Rich Plasma made from patient’s own blood) can be use.
PRF speeds up wound healing and help in quick recovery. PRF membrane can be use to stabilize the bone graft by covering them and need to wait for about 6-8 months for the bone grafts to mature and harden. Though, it has a longer waiting period and require 2 surgeries its worth the wait as it increases bone volume and will help in achieving a new teeth that is much better than the current scenario. This procedure has a success rate of about 90%.
Short implants
Dental Implants which is less than or equal to 7mm are considered as shorter implants. They are use mainly in compromised ridges or where there is little bone but the results and long-term stability is still debatable and proper caution to be consider before placement of these implants. Chronic smokers and Periodontitis patients are at greater risk for loss of short implant.
Zygomatic implants
Zygoma implant is one of the best option for replacement of missing teeth in case where there is atrophied maxillary bone with higher success rate. The implants are longer than conventional implants and are to be place in the zygomatic bone which will provide good stability.
The procedure need to be perform under conscious sedation or local anesthesia and no bone grafting procedure is require so no need to wait for 6-8 months for graft maturation and no 2nd surgery require. During the postoperative period there are no excessive discomforts and the greatest advantage is the fast treatment, quick recovery and patient can have the teeth on the same day.
Pterygoid Implants
Pterygoid implant is a favorable option for replacement of missing teeth with deficient or atrophied maxilla. The implants are longer than conventional dental implants and provide good stability.
The procedure is done under local anesthesia but if the patient is too anxious the procedure can be perform under conscious sedation and the implant is place in the back of the upper jaw. The procedure does not affect the daily routine, has fewer post operative complications and discomfort with a success rate of around 95%.
Angled implants
As the name suggest, angled implants are those implants which are angled or inclined in such a way that they avoid the maxillary sinus in atrophied maxilla thereby preventing complications arises due to perforation into the sinus. They also avoid the use of bone graft thereby reducing the treatment time and multiple surgeries. Besides, the teeth can be fixed on the same day.
So, with recent advances there are various types of dental implants procedures which can be done without the use of bone graft in atrophied or deficient maxillary bone. So, consult a dental professional who is well trained and highly experienced and will guide and help you find the most suitable solution for your missing teeth.
