Modern implantology has undoubtedly changed the prospects of fixed prosthetic rehabilitation in the absence of natural teeth. Dental implants today, in absolute safety, make it possible to replace one or more missing teeth or can support fixed rehabilitations of an entire arch, thus completely eliminating the use of dentures.
However, the indispensable condition for accessing implantology is good quality and especially the correct quantity of bone.
When bone regeneration is needed
With the loss of one or more teeth, the bone shrinks to a greater or lesser extent depending on whether pyorrhea concurs or not. This is a chronic disease of the jaw bones that leads to progressive degradation of their quantity over time. As the years go by then, especially in old age, bone thinning becomes even greater.
The result is that there is insufficient residual bone to perform implantation.
Dental implants need sufficient bone surface area where they can be placed but also good bone density for osseo-integration to occur.
When the maxillary or mandibular bone is so reduced in both height and width that implants cannot be inserted, it is called bone atrophy.
Bone regeneration and healing time
Today, it is possible through various surgical procedures to achieve surgical reconstruction of bone (regeneration). The methods that can be used are different depending on the bone volume that needs to be reconstructed.
- Autologous regeneration (i.e., with own bone): small blocks of bone can be taken from both endo- and extra- donor areas The blocks are shaped and fixed in the recipient areas with special osteosynthesis screws. These grafts take about 6-9 months to fuse to the preexisting residual bone.
- Heterologous regeneration: bone material of animal origin is used. This is usually freeze-dried and deantigenized bovine bone (bio-oss) so that the organic component is completely removed. This can be used in various forms (in blocks using the technique described for autologous bone, in granules as a filler for defects that have retaining walls). These blood-irradiated materials act as support for new bone formation. This type of bone graft also requires at least 6 to 9 months of healing.
- Regeneration with synthetic material: usually hydroxy-apatite, which is a mineral constituting the inorganic portion of bone. The procedures are the same as just described including healing time.
All procedures aimed at augmenting bone prior to implant placement are essentially painless. Beyond post-surgical trauma, which is mild and easily controlled with some pain medication, regeneration is a silent process that is accomplished in 6-9 months. By the end of this period the new bone has “fused” with the pre-existing bone. This restores the bone volume necessary for the proper and, above all, safe insertion of implant screws.
This delicate surgery requires years of experience and state-of-the-art technology. We invite you to rely on the implant specialists at Airam Medical Center, the dental office in Castel Maggiore, Bologna always at your disposal.
