Straight Teeth in Less Time
Can You Get Dental Implants When You Have a Cleft Palate?
Lois Murray
Although dental implants have been helping to restore or improve the smile of many people who need to replace one or more natural teeth that have been lost, for many years they were not often recommended for people with a cleft palate. However, it has recently been effective for many people with a cleft palate, when the procedure is provided by an experienced oral surgeon and is done in conjunction with a bone graft. Therefore, if you are sick of using a prosthetic device to compensate for your missing teeth, it is a good idea to discuss the following information with your dentist or oral surgeon.
Understanding the Details of a Bone Graft
It will first be necessary to understand that the weakened condition of your jaw , which is common to cleft palate patients, would almost certainly be unable to support the weight of a dental implant without first grafting new bone to the area. As a result, you are very unlikely to be eligible for the instant or same day dental implants that you may have heard about.
Your bone graft can be done with your own bone that is often grafted from your hip or other appropriate area. If that is not possible, the bone can often be donated from a cadaver and an artificial material for grafting has become popular in recent years. The bone is attached to your jaw, with the goal being to make the jaw strong enough to safely support the new teeth. It will also need to support the titanium rod that will go into the jaw to function as an artificial root for up to four teeth.
Planning for the New Implants
Assuming that the bone graft worked as expected and after a suitable amount of time has passed that you are healed from the bone graft, your dental implant surgery can commence. If you have never had teeth in that part of your jaw, it will take some time to get used to the option of a traditional mouth and teeth. Their presence will encourage stability and continued strength of your jaw and many people won't need additional grafting in the future.
It is best to choose an experienced dental expert for your care, as the presence of a cleft palate can be particularly challenging to navigate. In addition, it is important to remember that you will be able to eat and drink with your implants as you would with your natural teeth, so oral care at home needs to be a priority. Your implants will never decay, but your gums could become inflamed or swollen if you don't provide the care they need to stay healthy, so discuss aftercare and maintenance directions with your dental care specialist.
In conclusion, a cleft palate can result in significant oral difficulties, including trouble eating or obvious speech deficits due to missing or misshapen teeth. As a result, if you would like to receive dental implants as a permanent replacement for the affected teeth, it is a good idea to discuss the above facts with the professional providing your dental care. Learn more through resources like http://northwestdental.com/.
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I had braces when I was a kid. Back then, you had to wear those metal wires and rubber bands for what seemed like forever. When I saw that my child’s teeth were going to be crooked like mine, I was dreading the years of braces and orthodontist appointments and limited diets that I saw stretching ahead of us. I was pleased to find out that braces today are very different from braces when I was a kid. They don’t need to be worn for nearly as long, and they aren’t as intrusive, either. My daughter got braces that can barely be seen, and she can remove them when she eats, so she doesn’t have to give up her favorite foods. I was so impressed that I started a blog to talk about modern day tooth straightening techniques. Braces have come a long way.