Osteoporosis and dental implants
If you have osteoporosis, you might be wondering if it’s still possible to receive dental implants to replace missing teeth. The good news is that osteoporosis does not automatically disqualify you as a candidate for implants.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease that leads to a decrease in bone mineral density and deterioration in bone mass and strength. Osteoporosis increases the risk of bone fracture or other injury. It’s more common in women but men can develop the disease, too.
How does osteoporosis affect dental implant placement?
Many studies have been done to track the impact of osteoporosis on dental implant failure. While some results infer a slight increase in implant failure risk and indications that osteoporosis can affect the bone healing process, the findings generally conclude that osteoporosis is not a contraindication for implant surgery. This means that patients with osteoporosis can still be good candidates for dental implants.
How do I know if I am a candidate for dental implants?
Just like any other patient considering dental implants, patients with osteoporosis will need to have a scan taken of their jawbone to analyze bone density, size and strength. The results of this analysis will determine whether your oral surgeon feels you are a strong candidate for implant placement.
What about bisphosphonates?
If you are currently taking bisphosphonates to slow the effects of osteoporosis, you may experience a slightly slower healing process compared to other patients. Be sure to inform your oral surgeon about this and any other medications you are currently taking.
Get your dental implants as soon as possible
The highest success rate for dental implants in patients with osteoporosis are found in cases where the patient has their implants placed soon after losing their natural tooth. If you lose one or more teeth, do not wait to see an oral surgeon to discuss dental implant treatment. The longer you delay, the more your jawbone could deteriorate. For all patients, the best time to get dental implants is as soon as possible.
