Dental implants are a great, modern way to replace missing teeth, but some patients are still being told by their dentist that they are unsuitable for implant treatment because they lack the bone density to support them. At Capital Dental in Twickenham, we know this isn’t the case. Our skilled implant dentist Dr Sunny Luthra can treat even complex implant cases, giving you back a beautiful, functional smile.

What is bone loss?

When we lose teeth, the jaw bone frequently starts to resorb or shrink back without the tooth roots in place. This is a common problem in patients who have worn conventional dentures for some years, because while the dentures replace the crowns of the teeth, they do not replace the roots. Bone shrinkage can make the placement of dental implants more complex – but by no means impossible.

How dental implants help

Dental implants help to prevent bone loss because they replace the root portion of your missing teeth. Placed in direct contact with the bone in a small operation, carried out under local or general anaesthetic here at our Twickenham dental practice, the implants are osteoconductive – meaning they support bone growth.

What if I’ve already experienced bone loss?

If you have been wearing traditional dentures for many years, your dentist may have told you that you cannot have dental implants because bone loss has already happened. We are keen to reassure you that this isn’t the case – you may just need an additional procedure to rebuild your bone first.

At our Twickenham clinic Dr Luthra is able to provide bone grafts and sinus lifts, both of which are designed to regenerate the bone in your jaw prior to placing dental implants. Donor bone – your own or bone from another human, animal, or synthetic source – is used in the rebuilding process and left to heal before implants are fitted.