What Is Osseointegration for Implants? Mesa, AZ

graphic illustraction of a dental implant post that has achieved osseointegration at Timothy H. Kindt, DDS in Mesa, AZ

There are 178 million Americans who have lost at least one tooth and 40 million people who do not have any teeth at all.

The most comfortable, long-lasting, and natural-looking replacement teeth may be achieved with dental implants. Dr. Kindt in Mesa, AZ can help you understand how dental implants work and how they can benefit your oral health for a long time.

What is Osseointegration?

The term "osseointegration" is made from the Greek word "osteon" which translates to "bone" and the Latin word "integrate" which means to "make whole."

During a dental implant procedure, we will place a titanium replacement root in an empty tooth socket. The main purpose of this surgery is for the prosthetic implant to achieve tight-knit contact with the bones in your jaw. This will enable dental implant stability and ensure the implant becomes firmly anchored to your bone.

Osseointegration occurs after a dental implant has been emplaced in the jawbone. During this process, the cells of your jawbone grow up around the implant surface to tightly secure it.

The osseointegration timeline can range anywhere from six weeks to six months depending on your jaw health and overall health. After this period, the implant will have fully integrated to your jawbone.

This process is the very same as the one that your body experiences if you experience a bone fracture. Osseointegration plays a vital role in joint replacement and facial reconstruction procedures.

A dental implant is the next best thing to a natural tooth since it is embedded securely in your jawbone and looks, feels, and functions like a real tooth.

Osseointegration and Its Role in Jawbone Preservation

When a person loses their teeth, the bony alveolar ridge that used to house those teeth dissolves due to lack of stimulation by the chewing motion that is required to develop and strengthen the jawbone.

Hence, in as little as a single year, you can lose as much as 25% of your alveolar ridge. This will weaken your jawbone, resulting in the collapse of your facial structure, impacting the beauty and function of your mouth.

However, if you opt to place dental implants in your mouth immediately after losing your teeth, they will provide the required stimulation and ensure a healthy and strong jawbone as long as the prosthetics are in place.

You can also have dental implants later on, but if your jawbone has already deteriorated, you will first need to get a bone graft performed to augment the jawbone. Once the implants are in place, your jawbone will stop deteriorating and perform optimally.

How Do Dental Implants Encourage Osseointegration?

Dental implants are often covered with a special coating known as hydroxyapatite. This coating can help promote bone growth and allow your jaw to fuse to the implant.

We may also roughen the surface of the implant to ensure easier implant and bone fusion, helping you achieve bone integration.

During osseointegration, it is essential that you take good care of your implant. Do not exert too much force on the implant or it will dislodge from its proper position. This movement can negatively impact the bond forming between the bone and the implant and can lead to less successful osseointegration or even failure.

Impact of Jawbone Health on Osseointegration

People who have low jawbone density because of tooth loss, trauma, infection, or any other reason may not have enough bone mass for proper implant integration and stability. If a dental implant is placed in a soft jawbone, osseointegration will not take place effectively, resulting in dental implant failure.

However, this doesn't mean that people who have low jawbone quality and quantity cannot get dental implants. With a simple, minimally-invasive bone grafting surgery, we can augment the bone in your jaw so that it becomes strong and healthy enough to support a dental implant.

Factors That Can Impact Osseointegration

There are certain factors which can delay or prevent implant integration. These include certain health conditions and lifestyle habits:

•	Age: Dental implant surgery should be delayed for people under the age of 18 since their jawbone is still growing.
•	Pregnant Women: Pregnant women undergo dramatic hormonal changes. These changes can impact bone integration and healing, which can impact dental implant success.
•	Heavy Smokers: The nicotine in tobacco has been known to prevent adequate blood flow. Additionally, smoking results in the development of fibrous bone tissue which prevents osseointegration, resulting in implant failure.
•	Heavy Drinkers and Drug Use: Excess alcohol consumption and drug abuse are linked to several health issues, including oral health problems. Substance abuse not just hinders treatment, but also results in tissue necrosis. These people are also not likely to take care of their teeth and gums.
•	Cancer Patients: Radiation on your head and neck can cause osteonecrosis of the jaw, making it unable to support implants.
•	People with Chronic or Autoimmune Disease: People who have chronic diseases like uncontrolled diabetes, HIV/AIDS, hemophilia, and connective tissue disorder have compromised immune systems. Such patients do not heal quickly leading to complications after implant procedure.
•	People Undergoing Organ Transplant: People who are undergoing organ transplants are also given immunity-suppressing drugs that prevent the implant healing process and increase chances of infection. These are also not good candidates for dental implants.
•	People Who Grind Their Teeth: People who habitually clench their jaw or suffer from bruxism can exert a lot of force on their implant. This can cause the implant to dislodge from its position or fracture it, which can result in failure of your implant procedure.

Most of these people can still get an implant if they resolve some of the issues or if the conditions are not very severe. It is essential that you practice good oral and lifestyle habits during and after you have had your dental implant surgery. Dr. Kindt can evaluate you to determine if you can have a dental implant surgery.

Schedule an Appointment With Your Mesa, AZ Dentist Today!

Dental implant success rate is between 88% to 98%, depending on the location of the jaw and how well osseointegration has been achieved. With good care, dental implants can last for over 25 years, which means they can be a permanent, one-time, tooth replacement option for anyone.

If you are missing teeth, schedule an appointment with us by calling us at (480) 939-5818 and we will find out whether you are a good candidate for dental implants.

CONTACT US
Dental Implants and the All-on-4® Treatment Concept have literally transformed millions of lives. Why not see what they can do for you or someone you love? Want to know more?

Call us at (480) 939-5818 to schedule a consultation with our dentist in Mesa, AZ to see if dental implants are right for you!

We are your dental home for the whole family!

1244 N Greenfield Rd, Suite 105
Mesa, AZ85205-4078

Call (480) 939-5818

Osseointegration Mesa, AZ
Osseointegration is the process behind the huge success rate of dental implants. The dental implant fuses with the jawbone, increasing overall oral health.
Timothy H. Kindt, DDS, 1244 N Greenfield Road, Suite 105, Mesa, AZ 85205 / (480) 939-5818 / drkindt.com / 12/3/2024 / Associated Words: dentist /