Many patients visit our office after being told elsewhere that they are not candidates for permanent tooth replacement due to a lack of jawbone. At our Torrance dental office, we believe that bone loss should not be the end of your journey toward a healthy and functional smile.

Our team of dental surgeons provides the advanced care necessary to rebuild your smile from the foundation up. By utilizing sophisticated regenerative techniques, we can often help patients who were previously told their cases were too complex for traditional implants. If you are ready to explore how we can transform your oral health, please call us at (310) 325-9969 to schedule your consultation at our Southern California dental surgery center.

Understanding the Relationship Between Bone Health and Implants

A dental implant is a small titanium post that acts as an artificial tooth root, and like a natural tooth, it requires a sturdy foundation of bone to stay in place. When you lose a tooth, the surrounding jawbone no longer receives the stimulation it needs to maintain its volume and density.

This biological process is known as resorption, in which the body begins to reabsorb minerals from the jawbone to use elsewhere. Over time, the area where the tooth once was becomes thinner and shorter, which can make it difficult for a standard implant to achieve the stability needed to function.

  • The “Use It or Lose It” Principle: Your jawbone depends on chewing pressure to stay strong and healthy.
  • Structural Support: Without enough bone width and height, an implant cannot fully integrate with your body.
  • Common Causes of Loss: Bone depletion is often accelerated by untreated gum disease, long-term use of removable dentures, or facial trauma.

The Specialist Advantage: Rebuilding Your Foundation

At PermaDent, we use a collaborative approach in which our dental surgeons work together to evaluate your unique anatomy and develop a regeneration plan. We do not just work with the bone you currently have; we use advanced surgical techniques to grow the bone you need for a lifetime of support.

By combining the surgical precision of periodontics with the restorative expertise of prosthodontics, we ensure that every graft is placed with the final aesthetic result in mind. Our team, including Dr. MariaElena Rodriguez, Dr. Perry R. Klokkevold, Dr. Linda Yang, and Dr. Lindsey Williams, focuses on creating a rock-solid environment where your new teeth can thrive.

Advanced Bone Grafting Techniques

Bone grafting is a common and highly effective procedure where we place specialized, biocompatible material into areas of bone deficiency. This material serves as a scaffold that encourages your body to produce new, natural bone cells to fill the gaps.

This process essentially reverses years of bone loss, providing the vertical and horizontal support needed to securely anchor a dental implant. We choose from various high-grade grafting materials based on your specific health needs to ensure the most predictable and stable outcome possible.

Sinus Lifts for Upper Jaw Restoration

When teeth have been missing in the back of the upper jaw for a long time, the sinus cavities can expand downward, leaving very little bone available for an implant. A sinus lift is a delicate procedure in which we gently elevate the sinus membrane to create space for grafting material.

This creates the necessary depth for an implant to be placed without interfering with your sinus health. This procedure is a common step in full-mouth reconstruction for patients with significant bone loss in the upper posterior regions of the mouth.

Ridge Augmentation and Preservation

When the jaw ridge is too narrow to support an implant, we perform ridge augmentation to restore the natural contours of the bone. We also offer ridge preservation at the time of an extraction to stop bone loss before it even begins, keeping your options open for future restorations.

Advanced Technology for Precision Planning

The biological process of bone growth requires meticulous planning and the use of modern diagnostic tools to ensure a safe and successful outcome. We rely on data-driven insights to map out your surgery long before the actual procedure takes place.

Our investment in advanced technology allows us to see your jaw in high-resolution 3D, providing us with exact measurements of your bone volume and the location of vital nerves and sinuses. This level of detail helps our surgeons perform procedures with a higher degree of accuracy and predictability:

  • 3D CBCT Imaging: This provides a comprehensive view of your jaw structure that digital radiographs cannot.
  • Digital Guided Surgery: We virtually plan every graft and implant placement to ensure the most efficient and least invasive surgical path.
  • Biocompatible Growth Factors: We may use advanced proteins to accelerate the natural healing process and encourage faster bone maturation.

The Patient Journey: What to Expect During Bone Regeneration

Rebuilding bone is a journey that requires patience, as your body needs time to naturally integrate the grafting material into your existing jaw structure. We are with you every step of the way, ensuring that your comfort and safety are prioritized throughout the healing process.

While the timeline varies for every patient, the healing phase typically lasts a few months while the new bone matures and hardens. To ensure a stress-free experience during your visit, we offer various levels of sedation dentistry to help you remain relaxed and comfortable throughout your surgical care:

  • Comprehensive Consultation: We begin with a 3D scan and a detailed discussion of your health goals.
  • Surgical Grafting: The grafting procedure is performed in our Torrance office with local anesthesia or sedation.
  • The Maturation Phase: We monitor your progress over three to six months as the new bone grows and stabilizes.
  • Implant Placement: Once the site is strong and healthy, we move forward with placing your permanent dental implants.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bone Loss and Implants

We understand that undergoing a regenerative procedure can raise many questions about the process, timeline, and expected results. Providing clear and honest information is a cornerstone of our philosophy at PermaDent.

Most patients are surprised by how comfortable the bone grafting process is, particularly when performed by an experienced dental surgeon. While you may experience some minor tenderness during the first few days of healing, this is usually well-managed with standard over-the-counter pain relievers and following our detailed aftercare instructions.

The only way to definitively know if you have adequate bone volume is through a professional evaluation using 3D imaging. If you have worn dentures for many years or have been missing teeth for a significant amount of time, there is a high likelihood that you will benefit from some degree of bone regeneration before proceeding with All-on-X dental implants or single tooth replacements.

Rejection of bone grafting material is extremely rare because we use materials that are specifically chosen for their biocompatibility. These materials are designed to be integrated into your natural bone structure over time, eventually becoming a seamless part of your jaw.

In some cases, where the bone loss is minor, we can perform a “simultaneous graft” during the same appointment as your implant placement. However, for patients with more severe bone loss, we often recommend a staged approach to ensure the implant has a fully stable, mature foundation before it is asked to support the forces of chewing.

Reclaim Your Candidacy for Dental Implants in Torrance

You do not have to settle for removable dentures or a smile that makes you feel self-conscious just because you have been told you have bone loss. At PermaDent, we specialize in making the impossible possible through advanced surgical techniques and compassionate patient care.

Our goal is to help you achieve a beautiful, functional smile that improves your overall health and well-being. If you are ready to learn more about how bone regeneration can change your life, we invite you to reach out to our team today. Call us at (310) 325-9969 to schedule your 3D evaluation and take the first step toward a permanent, confident smile.