Osteoporosis Obstacles?
Osteoporosis is a health condition that affects 54 million Americans, primarily women. Osteoporosis causes a decrease in bone density and affects the body’s ability to manufacture new bone cells. Osteoporosis can make your bones weak and can cause them to break more easily. In some advanced cases of osteoporosis, bones may even break from sneezing, bumping into things or even walking across the room. So, why is a dentist talking about osteoporosis?
Because osteoporosis can also affect the jawbone, and if not treated, it could make getting a dental implant difficult. The reason? Dental implants depend on a physiological process known as osseointegration in which the dental implant fully fuses into the bone tissue and becomes a permanent part of the body.
Some people living with osteoporosis take bisphosphonates, such as Fosamax or Boniva, to restore bone tissue levels. These individuals often ask if they’re good candidates for dental implants.
Ways to Reduce Dental Implant Failure
The idea of experiencing dental implant failure can be scary; the good news is that dental implant failure is rare. In fact, dental implants have a more than 99 percent success rate. But, there are some things you can do to help reduce your chance of dental implant failure:
Practice Good Oral Hygiene. We recommend that you brush at least twice per day and floss at least once (we would love if you flossed twice!) per day. Also, we suggest that you rinse every day with an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash.
Watch What You Eat. While dental implants look, feel and function just like your natural teeth, and are very durable for chewing, we recommend that you avoid crunching very hard candy or nuts and avoid using your teeth as “tools” to open bottles and packages.
See the Dentist Regularly. It’s always a good idea to see the dentist at least twice a year, but after getting your implant, you may need to visit more frequently to make sure everything is good with the implant and identify any issues.
Are you interested in a dental implant? Call Dr. Pollock at (469)264-8921 for a consultation.
