Can You Get Dental Implants If You Have Osteoporosis?

Dentist Blog

The importance of teeth cannot be emphasized any further. They help in eating, chewing and in uttering meaningful words. A person with a full set of teeth also tends to have a better self-esteem as compared to a person who is missing a tooth or two. As you age, however, you may begin to lose your teeth. But that isn't much of a concern nowadays due to the success of dental implant treatment. Dental implants function the same way as your natural teeth. And on top of that, they restore your confidence. If you are suffering from osteoporosis, you could be asking yourself if your jawbone is strong enough to support dental implants. The answer to your question is yes, but the success of the treatment may depend on how fast you act to get the implants.

What Is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a degenerative disease that affects the bones. With the disease in play, the bones (including the jawbone) lose calcium and slowly, they lose their strength. And because of this, the bones become prone to fractures. Osteoporosis tends to affect women more than men, especially women who are past their menopause.

There is a class of drugs known as bisphosphonates that is used to curb the effects of osteoporosis. However, it has been found that the drugs can result in jawbone complications and hinder the progress of dental implant treatment. In medical terms, the complications are referred to as bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis or BRON in short. What happens is that the drugs prevent the flow of blood to the bones, which result in the death of the bones.

Can You Insert Implants If You Have Osteoporosis?

According to research studies, it is absolutely possible to get implants if you have osteoporosis. In one study, 24 women who were past their menopause were examined. 12 of them had missing teeth and were suffering from osteoporosis. The other 12 had missing teeth but were not suffering from the disease. So doctors replaced all of their teeth with dental implants and waited for a year.

After one year, the results were impressive. There was bone loss in both groups of women but the implants were still intact.

What If You Are Taking Bisphosphonates?

With less blood flowing to the jawbone, it becomes hard for the jawbone to support dental implants. However, dental implant treatment could be possible if you are taking bisphosphonate drugs under one condition. That is if you act early; conclusions from the same study imply that you should have the implants inserted immediately after you have had your teeth removed. When you delay, you risk suffering from BRON.

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3 August 2016

Dental Emergencies and Kids

As a mother, I've seen my kids' faces light up after they've lost a tooth – oh, the excitement they feel about getting their grown up teeth! However, I've also seen my kids become extremely scared and anxious after having an adult tooth knocked out. If you're a mom or a dad with a busy kid, chances are you might see a tooth knocked out in a skateboarding accident or a sport pile-up. This blog is dedicated to those moments when you could lose your wits, and it's here to ensure you don't. I am collecting and curating the best information about kids and dental emergencies here so that you will have it when you need it. Best of luck with your kids' smiles!