We believe that every individual deserves a healthy and functional smile. Regardless of their age or any medical history, everyone deserves to have a good smile and a healthy dental health. At Smile O Care , Can I get dental implants if I have osteoporosis is one of the most common questions which we receive from our senior patients in Lucknow? With specialisation in the techniques and advancements in modern dentistry, it is now possible to have dental implants, even if you have osteoporosis. This is a drastic change as for many years there was a misconception that low point density makes dental implants impossible.

In this blog, we will explore the relation between implants and bone health and the role of medication as at Smile O Care, we ensure a safe and successful smile restoration for you.

Osteoporosis refers to a condition where bones are brittle, thin, and are more prone to fractures. At this stage, bones are very weak and since the process of dental implants, relies majorly on the strength of bone, it automatically becomes a topic of worry and discussion that one should go for dental implants or not.

Jawbone is slightly different and unique from this as it consists of a very dense outer layer which is called cortical bone and this is often considered as strong enough to support an implant even when the other major bones in the body like the spine or hip are thinning and weak.

Osteoporosis is not a deal-breaker in the case of implants. Some of the recent medical studies show that the success rate of dental implants in the patients who suffer from osteoporosis is very identical to the ones who have normal bone density. The normal borne density ranges between 95 to 98%. The healing process is not the same in these two different cases as different bodies require different time and different personalised planning. We at Smile O Care don’t believe that one size fits all, so we tailor the techniques in order to match your bone structure.

One of the important things to notice is the medication that is used to treat osteoporosis. Many patients take a medicine or drug called bisphosphonates. These drugs also alter the process of bone healing apart from just preventing the fractures. It is also observed in some of the rare cases that these medications lead to a condition which is commonly called BRONJ(Bisphosphonate Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw). This situation arises when the bone feels to heal after surgical procedure. The risk in the patients taking oral bisphosphonates for a span less than three years is extremely low. While in the patients receiving these through high dose, intravenous bone therapy, six more caution and the proper consultation with the physician.

In order to have implants remain stable in the case where jawbone has significantly thinned because of osteoporosis, we use the following techniques:

Bone grafting: bone minerals are added to the site required in order to create a strong foundation to the ambulance and build up the bone areas where it is weak and lacking. Strategic implant placement: 3D guided surgeries are used for this purpose, and in this surgery, we can place plants in the areas of the jaw where they are naturally densest. Sinus lifts: in case of the upper job, we can carefully lift the sinus membrane and add bone in order to provide sufficient depth for the implants.

The journey to dental health requires expertise as well as empathy. A set of good doctors with an experience led by Dr Soni Giri, are here for you at a Smile O Care to manage your case, look after your dental health.

Our clinic in Lucknow is equipped with digital diagnostic tools in order to visualise your bone structure in 3D, painless dentistry to maintain your comfort throughout the healing journey and an interdisciplinary Care, where you can speak with the doctors to ensure your health is never compromised for a dental procedure, and everything is done with utmost care.

For the patient suffering from osteoporosis, after-care is must and important in order to have fruitful results and make the implant successful. In order to have a good post- implant recovery we recommend excellent hygiene to prevent gums disease or infections, a good nutrition rich diet to help your body repair and maintain bone health and to have regular checkups in order to make sure everything is going smoothly.

One more thing which is very crucial in this process is to avoid or it’s better to quit smoking as it hinders the process of borne healing and often leads to implant failure.