Major Bone Loss
Told you don't have enough bone? Read this first.
Severe bone loss doesn't automatically rule out implants. There are several paths around it. Some involve grafting, some don't. The right one depends on where the bone is missing, how much is left, and what you want the end result to look like.
The path options
Four ways we work around missing bone.
Bone grafting
Adding bone where it's missing so standard implants can be placed afterward. Takes time (months of healing before placement) but yields a conventional outcome.
Sinus lift
Adding bone height in the upper jaw, specifically below the sinus, so back implants can be placed. Often combined with grafting in the same visit.
Zygomatic implants
Anchoring into the cheekbone instead of the upper jaw. Skips most grafting and dramatically shortens the timeline for severely resorbed upper jaws.
Pterygoid implants
Reaching into a dense piece of bone behind the upper jaw to add chewing support in the back without sinus work.
Dr. Gendler explains
How gum disease quietly costs you bone.
Most bone loss starts with gum disease that didn't get treated in time. By the time a tooth feels loose, the bone underneath has often been melting away for years. Dr. Gendler on what the early signs look like, and why catching it matters.
Dr. Gendler explains
Gum disease and bone loss
Why untreated gum disease causes bone loss long before a tooth feels loose, and what to do about it.
A note on second opinions
Different practices know different techniques.
Zygomatic and pterygoid implants aren't taught in standard dental school. Many practices won't offer them, which means patients with severe bone loss often hear "you're not a candidate for implants" when what's actually true is "you're not a candidate for the implants this practice does."
If you've been told no somewhere else, we'd like to look at the CBCT scan ourselves before agreeing.
The downstream cost of waiting
Missing teeth aren't just a smile issue. The bone underneath continues to shrink, the bite shifts, the face loses support, and nutrition often suffers as chewing gets harder.
The earlier we look at the case, the more options stay open. Even years-old bone loss is usually treatable; it just takes a different plan than a fresh extraction would.
Related treatments
Related treatments
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