Osteoporosis is a very common condition that causes the bones to gradually weaken over time, and it’s especially prevalent in post-menopausal women. In many cases, it can cause the jawbone to become very thin and brittle, which can make a person much more likely to experience tooth loss over time. Dental implants are often used to restore missing teeth because they are the only treatment that rebuilds the entire structure of a tooth, but in order to get them, a patient must have an adequate amount of strong, healthy jawbone to support the prosthetic root. Does having osteoporosis mean that a patient is automatically ineligible to get dental implants? A recent study published in the Journal of Oral Implantology says otherwise. (more…)

If you’ve been dealing with missing teeth for years, dental implants probably sound like the ideal solution, as they are able to resemble a natural tooth in almost every way possible. For many patients, the process is as simple as finding an implant dentist and saying they’d like to replace their missing teeth. For others, a little prep work may be necessary. See, dental implants actually require a patient to have an adequate amount of healthy jawbone to support them, and a patient who has been missing teeth for a long time may have one that is too thin or brittle. Fortunately, dentists can now build up the jawbone with a variety of bone grafting procedures. Today, we’re going to discuss one of the most common: sinus surgery. This particular treatment is used to help those patients who are hoping to replace their missing teeth toward the back of their upper jaw. Will you need it to get dental implants? Read on to learn more. (more…)