Dental Implants For the Treatment of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal or gum disease is a chronic bacterial infection of the gums that affects the supporting bone. Individuals who struggle with periodontal disease often experience bone and tooth loss. Unreplaced teeth can cause several complications, such as causing the adjacent teeth to shift, become crowded, or fall out. Replacing missing teeth is essential to your overall health.
Dental implants are a fixed solution that can help restore your smile and oral health if you suffer from missing or loose teeth because of periodontal disease. Dental implants are the preferred treatment method that provides a natural-looking restoration.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a durable and stable solution for replacing missing teeth. They act as artificial tooth roots and are composed of three parts: the implant, the abutment, and the crown restoration. The implant is inserted into the jaw bone and integrates with the natural bone, providing a reliable foundation for porcelain crowns and other restorations.
Since dental implants integrate with the natural bone, they are the only restoration solution that prevents jaw bone deterioration and collapse. The process of integration between the implant and bone is known as osseointegration.
Dental Implants And Periodontal Disease
To be a good candidate for dental implants, there must be healthy bone and gum tissue to support the dental implant. Most patients who have suffered from periodontal disease believe they are not fit for dental implants. However, that is not always the case. Individuals who suffer from periodontal disease or have previously suffered from it can receive implants as long as there is ample bone density and gum tissue to support them.
Patients with periodontal disease who wish to replace missing teeth with dental implants must seek treatment to ensure the gum tissue, teeth, and bone are healthy. Once the infection is treated and under control, our specialists will evaluate the gum tissue and bone density to determine if dental implants can be inserted. If there is insufficient bone or gum tissue, bone or gum grafting may be recommended to ensure there is enough support for the dental implants.
Teeth Replacement Options
Many restorative options are involved when utilizing dental implants to replace missing teeth.
- Single tooth replacement. When one tooth is missing, a single implant is inserted into the empty socket to replace the root of that tooth.
- Multiple teeth replacement. When one or more teeth are missing, you do not need to insert an implant for every missing tooth. Instead, implants can act as a support or fixed bridge work.
- Replacing all teeth. This procedure involves attaching a fixed replacement arch on four dental implants. Implants can support an entire arch of upper or lower replacement teeth that are fixed into the mouth.
Once the area affected by periodontal disease is treated, the gums will attach to the dental implants and heal properly. Therefore, it is essential to maintain healthy oral hygiene. There are instances where the periodontal infection may develop again surrounding the implant below the gumline. If not treated early, the bacteria can cause the bone that supports the implant to deteriorate, known as peri-implant disease. Therefore, it is essential to maintain healthy oral hygiene.
Proper dental implant maintenance includes regular brushing and flossing, which will help prevent any recurrence of periodontal disease. Dental implants are durable when taken care of and allow the gum tissue and bone to integrate and develop successfully and healthily.
How Dental Implants Can Benefit Patients with Periodontal Disease
The main concern with periodontal disease is the gum recession and bone deterioration that can occur. Dental implants restore and replace missing teeth and provide several benefits for gum and bone structure health. Advantages of dental implants include:
- Prevents bone loss. The implant inserted into the jawbone integrates with the natural bone and helps maintain the structure.
- Keeps adjacent teeth stable. When a gap is left open, the adjacent teeth shift towards the empty space. This alters the alignment and affects your bite, ability to chew, and appearance.
- Help prevent periodontal disease. Having missing teeth and gaps can trap bacteria that can lead to periodontal disease. Replacing those teeth with dental implants can help maintain a healthy smile.
- Prevents facial collapse. Facial collapse occurs when the bone begins to deteriorate. However, since the dental implant integrates with the natural bone and helps regenerate bone growth, a facial collapse will not occur.
If you are interested in dental implants to restore your smile, consult with one of our elite specialists. We will provide you with an unmatched care package that includes the following: treatment options, real patient case studies with before and after photographs of their treatment, instructions on how to maintain oral hygiene, our office policies, and patient forms, and procedures completed from beginning to end within our office – in just one visit!
FAQ
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are a durable and stable solution for replacing missing teeth. They act as an artificial tooth roots and are composed of three parts: the implant, the abutment, and the crown restoration. The implant is inserted into the jaw bone and integrates with the natural bone, providing a reliable foundation for porcelain crowns and other restorations.
Can you get dental implants with periodontal disease?
Patients with periodontal disease who wish to replace missing teeth with dental implants must seek treatment to ensure the gum tissue, teeth, and bone are healthy. Once the infection is treated and under control, our specialists will evaluate the gum tissue and bone density to determine if dental implants can be inserted. If there is insufficient bone or gum tissue, bone or gum grafting may be recommended to ensure there is enough support for the dental implants.
What are the benefits of dental implants for patients with periodontal disease?
The main concern with periodontal disease is the gum recession and bone deterioration that can occur. Dental implants restore and replace missing teeth and provide several benefits for the health of the gum and bone structure. Advantages of dental implants include:
- Prevents bone loss. The implant inserted into the jawbone integrates with the natural bone and helps maintain the structure.
- Keeps adjacent teeth stable. When a gap is left open, the adjacent teeth shift towards the available space. This alters the alignment and affects your bite, ability to chew, and appearance.
- Help prevent periodontal disease. Having missing teeth and gaps can trap bacteria that can lead to periodontal disease. Replacing those teeth with dental implants can help maintain a healthy smile.
- Prevents facial collapse. Facial collapse occurs when the bone begins to deteriorate. However, since the dental implant integrates with the natural bone and helps regenerate bone growth, a facial collapse will not occur.
Does gum disease stop after a tooth is removed?
Removing an infected tooth due to gum disease does not just eradicate the infection. If left untreated, the infection will most likely continue to grow and spread, potentially causing the loss of more teeth.
What is gum or periodontal disease?
Individuals who struggle with periodontal disease often experience bone and tooth loss. Periodontal or gum disease is a chronic bacterial infection of the gums that, when left untreated, affects the supporting bone. Replacing missing teeth is essential to your overall health and the health of the surrounding teeth. Unreplaced teeth can cause several complications, such as causing the adjacent teeth to shift, become crowded, or eventually fall out.
