The Importance of Osseointegration to Implant Success
Osseointegration is a critical aspect of dental implant treatment, during which the metal posts that anchor your restorations fuse with the jawbone. This process typically requires about four to six months and provides a long-lasting base for your restoration. Once it is complete, our doctors can finish your treatment by placing your custom-made restoration.
Our doctors have over 60 years of combined experience and can work together to provide you with leading dental implant care at our Plano, TX, office. We pride ourselves on using advanced technology to provide precise implant placement and providing you with the information you need to achieve successful osseointegration.
What is Osseointegration?
Osseointegration is a biological process during which the material of an artificial implant fuses with your existing bone tissue. During this process, the bone cells will attach to the surface of the implant and grow around it, securing it in place.
Osseointegration & Dental Implants
Because it creates a stable foundation for your restoration, osseointegration is an essential part of implant placement. Once the process is complete, the dental implant becomes part of your anatomy and acts as the artificial tooth root for your restoration. After the implant has been placed, it typically takes about four to six months for it to fully integrate with your jawbone, depending on a variety of factors.
Without proper osseointegration, your dental implants are much more vulnerable to weakening or failing. Dental implant failure jeopardizes the health of your smile and is costly. As such, it is highly encouraged that you follow specific recovery guidelines provided by your doctor to prevent complications.
We pride ourselves on using advanced technology to provide precise implant placement.
Factors That Can Inhibit Osseointegration
First and foremost, patients must have sufficient jawbone tissue present for an implant to be placed. If not, it must be supplemented with other bone tissue to provide the base for your implant and to allow proper osseointegration to occur.
Health & Lifestyle Factors
However, there are also certain medical conditions and lifestyle habits that can prevent successful osseointegration, including:
- Smoking
- Smoking during recovery has been proven to have a negative impact on the process of osseointegration as it can impair the body's healing abilities. Typically, it is recommended that you quit smoking several weeks before your dental implant procedure so that your body has sufficient time to rebuild its ability to heal.
- Excessive Alcohol Consumption
- Consuming excessive alcohol during recovery can impair your body's ability to heal as well, negatively impacting osseointegration and minimizing the contact made between the bone and the implant.
- Diabetes
- This condition affects jawbone growth and can actually escalate jawbone deterioration. As such, osseointegration is less likely to be successful in patients with diabetes.
- Osteoporosis
- While the research is still not definitive, there is a noticeable correlation between osteoporosis and implant failure.
During your consultation, your doctor will evaluate your oral health, examine your bite and jawbone using the latest technology, and thoroughly review your medical history. This information will allow them to determine whether you a candidate for dental implants and whether any issues exist that could impede the success of your treatment.
Leading Dental Implant Care
If you are interested in learning more about the dental implant process, contact us online or call us at (972) 618-5000 to schedule your consultation. Our team is always happy to educate you about this treatment so you can make informed decisions about your oral health.
