How is gum disease related to bone loss?
Many adults in Milwaukee, WI and all over the US suffer from gum disease at some level. Gum disease is often caused by poor dental hygiene and if left untreated, it can develop to a more serious dental condition called Periodontitis. Periodontitis is considered a very serious gum infection because it damages the soft tissues that are surrounding the tooth and will eventually destroy the bone that supports your teeth which can result in tooth loss.
Periodontitis causes bacteria-filled plaque to spread below the patient’s gum line. This causes pockets to form adding more chances for infection to breed and spread. Over time, the infection will cause the gradual deterioration of the patient’s jaw bone and the bone will recede away from the tooth.
Once the tooth or teeth are lost due to periodontal disease (gum disease), the patient will be given options that will fit within their budgets. Most tooth replacements, whether they are dentures, partials or implants require bone for support. If people wait too long to restore their missing teeth the bone loss can be quite extensive. When deep cleanings and scaling and root planning can allow us to keep teeth we try everything to save your teeth first! If however, they must be lost, it is better to consider removal before the bone loss is so advanced that grafting procedures and advanced techniques are required to rebuild your smile.
Bone grafting from the chin, ramus (lower posterior jaw), or use of bone morphogenic proteins (bone growth factors in a bottle) are all options that need to be discussed with severe gum and bone destruction problems.
When bone loss gets too severe, even bone from the hip may be needed to rebuild lost foundations. So read Dr. Richard’s article on Compromised Foundations Require Confident Conversation under Publications to learn more about bone grafting and pain from periodontal disease. Also, read General Dentistry As A Specialty!
Call us at 414-464-9021 to schedule your advanced gum disease examination or to discuss implants and bone grafting.
Actual Patient Case
What are the treatments available for advanced bone loss?
Bone Grafting In Milwaukee, WI
Bone grafting is performed when periodontitis has resulted in severe damage to the bone surrounding a person’s teeth. The grafting materials used can either come from a bone bank and are sterilized matrices used to help guide bone replacement or they may come from artificial sources or may be bone particles harvested from the patients themselves. Bone grafts help maintain bone volume and height to aid in implant placement. Bone grafts can help avoid more costly bone block replacements if they are done at the time a tooth is extracted.
Soft Tissue Grafting
Soft tissue grafting is performed when there is a lack of keratinized or thick tissue at an anticipated implant site. This can be done by using acellular dermal matrix (donated skin which has been sterilized and is devoid of living cells), or from harvesting soft tissue from the patient’s palate.
Sometimes there may be the need for more than one grafting procedure and if a block graft is planned sometimes extra tissue must be grafted prior to performing the block graft.
Tissue Regeneration
Tissue regeneration as it takes time for a persons bone and skin to replace the bone and membrane that are placed for augmentation purposes.
Membranes are used to stop cellular and soft tissue invagination into the new bone substitute so the new bone can be dense, hard and free of granulation or soft tissues. This facilitates implant placement when bone loss has become extensive.
Flap Surgery
This procedure involves making incisions in the gums to allow your dentist to lift back your gums and clean the area surrounding the gums thoroughly. Your dentist will then repair the damage caused by periodontitis to the underlying bone and restore the normal position of the receded gum to improve its appearance.
Laser Gum Surgery
LANAP or LAPIP
Full Mouth Rehabilitation In Milwaukee, WI
Treatment for advanced cases of bone bossloss does not stop in recreating the jaw bone and providing sufficient bone mass. Our team in Milwaukee, WI will provide you with a personalized treatment plan that maps out the dental procedures that will be done in stages in order to restore your smile.
The reconstruction of your teeth after successful restoration of bone mass will be geared towards replacing your missing teeth. The dental procedure and appliances to be used are of course based on your preference. Most patients at the Hampton Dental Associates who prefer a more permanent solution to their missing teeth are all able to have successful dental implant placement as well as permanent bridgework after their jaw bone has been recreated.
As mentioned, treatments will be done in stages and you can be guaranteed that you will not go toothless for the duration of the entire treatment because you will be provided a temporary bridge so that you can still eat normally and will not feel self-conscious about not having any teeth as we fabricate your permanent porcelain bridgework.
Hampton Dental Associates uses only the best and the latest in imaging technology so you can be sure that your dental appliances fits perfectly, looks very natural, and will compliment your overall appearance.
Click here to read more about this Gum and Bone Disease patient case study.
Schedule An Appointment
If you're interested in learning more about full-mouth reconstruction in Milwaukee, WI as a treatment for advanced bone loss due to periodontitis, call us today at 414-464-9021 or click the button below.
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