Gum disease and Bone graft for dental implants

[Fatima]

Hello

I need to have two dental implants after I lost my front teeth. My dentist says that I cant have bone graft and dental implants until my gum disease is stopped. I would like to know what is the problem with having gum disease and having a Bone graft for dental implants?

The reason is that I think it would be very difficult for me to stop my gum disease and I would like to have dental implants and desperately wish to avoid dentures.

[Dr Vahid Motahar]

Hi,

Thank you for your question.

Your dentist is very correct to say that before you should consider dental implants and bone grafting, first you must bring your gum disease under control.

Gum or better known as periodontal disease is a genetically inherited disorder that is associated with the loss of boney support around the root of the teeth. It is an irreversible condition and once the bone is lost it cannot be replaced. Therefore it is imperative that when one suffers from perio disease first they must stop the bone loss by bringing the disease under control and stabilize it.

If the perio disease is active and bone grafting and implant placement is done, then exactly in the same way that you have lost your bone and your teeth, you can lose your bone graft and your implants! Thus before considering implants you should treat your gum disease.

At Pearl Dental Clinic we see many patients that come for implant placement and we notice that they have active gum disease. The first line of treatment for these people is periodontal treatment by people that know exactly what type of treatment should be carried out and in many cases refer them to periodontist specialist.

While your are having perio treatment or bone graft and implants, you can have temporary measures to replace the missing teeth for better aesthetics until your tretment is completed by permanent restorations like implants and you do not need to worry about that.