When you’re missing your upper teeth, simple tasks like smiling, talking, and eating comfortably can become challenging. Our upper teeth play a fundamental role, and while dentures can help, they may slip or move while you’re eating, making upper dental implants the best option.
Dental implants are secure because they’re anchored to your jawbone, offering unparalleled stability. Whether you need to replace an entire upper arch or just a single tooth, they provide a durable and comfortable option. However, they come with some challenges, especially for patients lacking enough bone density.
Let’s help you figure out whether they’re an ideal option for you.
What Are Upper Dental Implants?
Upper dental implants refer to the implants placed on the upper arch of your jaw. Like regular implants, they are anchored to your jawbone using small screws made of titanium. This biocompatible material bonds with your jawbone in a process known as osseointegration.
This allows implants to work as artificial tooth roots, offering a stable foundation and stimulating your jawbone to prevent bone resorption.
While every tooth has a fundamental role in your smile, upper teeth are especially important.
- When smiling, your upper teeth are more visible than the lower ones.
- Upper teeth also play a fundamental role when you speak; for instance, your two front teeth support your tongue when expressing sounds with the letter “t.”
- Additionally, they help grasp and break down food, working together with the lower teeth to make eating easier.
- Lastly, they play a crucial role in your facial structure, contributing to the overall shape of the face and helping maintain the position of the lips and cheeks.
Understanding the Differences Between Upper and Lower Jaw
Your smile comprises two arches: the upper side and the lower side. While seemingly similar, each arch stands on a different bone and thus has its unique set of challenges and requirements for placement.
The upper jawbone, known as the maxilla, is a fixed bone that forms the upper part of the mouth, holds the upper teeth, and supports the nasal cavity and orbits. On the other hand, the lower jawbone, or mandible, isn’t fixed—allowing the movement essential for chewing and speaking.
Placing implants in the upper jawbone can be harder for this and other reasons. Some of these include:
- Bone Density: Compared to the lower jaw (mandible), the upper jawbone, particularly the posterior maxilla, frequently has a lower bone density. This may make it more challenging to get the implant to be sufficiently stable.
- Sinus Proximity: The maxilla and sinus cavities are adjacent to each other. Sometimes, to make room for the implant, the sinus may need to be raised (a process known as a sinus lift), which makes the process more difficult.
- Bone Quality: The quality of the upper jaw's bone can vary, and conditions like tooth loss or periodontal disease can cause bone resorption, which makes implant placement more difficult.
- Anatomical Considerations: The upper jaw has more anatomical variances that must be carefully managed during the procedure, such as the location of blood vessels and nerves.
Possibilities and Limitations of Upper Jaw Implants
Full-arch dental implants are a simple and reliable solution for patients with several missing teeth. Sadly, not everyone is a candidate. Patients with insufficient bone density may not be eligible for this dental restoration because there is not enough surface for the implant to attach properly.
The problem is that this situation is fairly common, as tooth loss fosters bone density loss.
It has been discovered that the nerves and blood vessels inside your tooth’s root provide valuable nutrients to your jawbone. These vessels continuously deliver nutrients to the pulp or tooth core. The root encourages the flow of nutrients and vitamins to your jawbone when you bite down or chew.
Sadly, when tooth loss occurs, these nutrients stop flowing to the jawbone, and without stimulation, they start to recede. This process happens very quickly, too. During the initial six months following tooth loss, the bone's height decreases by 11-22%, while its width decreases even more quickly, by 32% at three months and 29-63% at six months.
This translates to a loss of roughly 4 mm in thickness and 1 mm in height over the first six months. Following the first year, about half of the bone may be lost, and the resorption process proceeds at a slower rate of about 1% annually after that.
For this reason, getting a dental implant immediately after tooth loss is extremely important. When that doesn’t happen, treatments are available to foster the jawbone and encourage it to re-grow. We perform a sinus lift when the problem lies in the upper jaw.
What’s a Sinus Lift?
A sinus lift, also called a sinus augmentation, aims to increase the amount of bone in the upper jaw, especially in the area surrounding the molars and premolars. During it, the sinus membrane is gently raised, and bone graft material is positioned beneath it.
This procedure is frequently required when not enough bone is left to firmly anchor dental implants because of bone loss, periodontal disease, or other causes. A sinus lift improves the long-term viability of dental implants by establishing a solid, stable base.
Are Sinus Lifts Dangerous?
Sinus lifts are generally considered safe procedures as long as qualified professionals perform them, and the patient follows aftercare instructions as provided. However, like any surgical intervention, there is a risk of infection at the surgical site.
Recovery also varies; some patients may feel swollen or uncomfortable, but these side effects usually go away in a few weeks. Furthermore, there is always a chance that a bone graft will not fuse with the existing bone properly, necessitating further procedures.
Nevertheless, when managed effectively by an experienced oral surgeon, all of these risks can be minimized.
Get the Upper Dental Implants You Need!
As your maxilla doesn’t move, underestimating the importance of this bone can be easy. Still, the upper teeth play a very important role in daily activities, leaving a considerable gap in their absence. From experiencing trouble speaking to noticing changes in your facial structure, missing upper teeth can considerably impact your quality of life.
Luckily, 3020 Dental Implants has a team of expert professionals and state-of-the-art technology that can restore your smile with natural-looking results. If you’d like to know whether upper dental implants are an option for you, reach out!
