How Does Osteoporosis Impact Dental Implants?

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone, which commonly results in a gradual loss of bone density and increased risk in bone fracture. This is a health condition that plagues over 200 million aging adults in the global population. According to recent statistics from the International Osteoporosis Foundation, worldwide, 1 in 3 women over the age of 50 years and 1 in 5 men will experience osteoporotic fractures in their lifetime.

What does osteoporosis have to do with your teeth? While osteoporosis may not impact the teeth themselves, it can affect the jawbone that holds your teeth or a dental implant in place. Remember that dental implants are only successful if the jawbone has enough height, width and density to support a dental implant. This is what acts as your artificial tooth root.

Can You Still Qualify for Dental Implants?

So if you have osteoporosis, does that mean you can still get dental implants? Absolutely! However, you can expect your dentist to take extra precautions before proceeding. First, it is important that your osteoporosis condition be under control and managed properly by a physician. Next, x-rays will be taken of your jawbone. It is very possible that you have weak bones in other parts of your body but a strong, healthy jawbone. If it is found that your jawbone density or volume has been compromised by osteoporosis, however, you still don’t have to count yourself out for dental implants.

The Bone Grafting Solution

Bone grafting is a very common procedure with a predictable outcome. It allows patients with poor bone density to take advantage of dental implants. The procedure can utilize processed and sterilized bone from animals (usually cows) to biochemically fool the body into accepting the graft as our natural bone. Over time, the graft will be absorbed and replaced by the your own native bone.

At Crabapple Dental, we are here to treat all aging adults – including those that have osteoporosis and want to take advantage of implant dentistry. Our office offers excellence in dental implants and implant restorations, which may include a crown, bridge or denture that attaches to your dental implants. For more information about dental implants, please schedule your visit at our Alpharetta office.