Dentists are all in agreement—for tooth replacement, there is no better option than a dental implant. In Colorado Springs, dental implants not only replace the crown (visible portion) of a tooth, but the root, as well. In this way, they improve the appearance of your smile, restore your ability to eat and speak, and preserve your facial structure by stimulating healthy new bone growth. However, there must first be sufficient bone volume at the site for a dental implant to be successful. If an upper back tooth needs replacing, Colorado Springs general dentist Dr. Solich may recommend accessing your sinus cavity for a bone graft.
Healthy Bone and Dental Implants in Colorado Springs
Technically speaking, a dental implant is a small titanium post that is surgically embedded in your jawbone beneath the socket of a missing tooth. Under local anesthesia, an incision is made in your gum tissue and the implant is placed. With time—three to six months—the implant and surrounding bone tissue grow together to create a firmly anchored new tooth root.
However, if you’ve been missing a tooth for some time—or if you’ve been wearing a partial or another type of prosthesis—then there may be bone loss at the site. Without a tooth root to stimulate new bone growth, jawbone tissue begins to dissolve.
Bone Graft Surgery and Your Sinuses
Bone graft surgery can be performed to regenerate new bone. During this procedure, your own bone or cadaver bone is placed at the site. Eventually, new bone will grow and replace the graft.
If there is insufficient bone to support an implant in the upper back portion of your jaw, then the space just above can be used to grow the additional bone needed to secure an implant. Maxillary sinuses are located on either side of your nose directly above your upper jaw. With detailed x-rays and 3D scans, this space can be entered through your mouth. Once accessed, a bone graft is positioned between the floor of the sinus and the sinus membrane. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and usually takes no longer than an hour. Healing can take several months, after which time Dr. Solich reads new x-rays and scans to determine if there is sufficient bone volume to support a dental implant. If so, we can begin the implant procedure and set you on the path toward a fully restored smile.
Call Your Colorado Springs General Dentist Today
Would you like to know if you are a qualified candidate for dental implants? Then contact Exceptional Smiles, the dental practice of Dr. Solich in Colorado Springs, CO.