Hi, Dear doc. A little more information which may help find out what is the root cause of excessive bone loss around lower jaw implants. I checked the X-RAY taken in 2007. At that time, the bone level was at 1st and 2nd thread. Not bad at all for the implants that were placed in 2000. The recent X-RAY showed that the bone level was at the 3rd and 4th thread. That means I lost 2mm bone in less two years. I now guess the bone loss happened in less than half a year. I did sinus lifting and ridge augmentation bone grafting surgery for the upper jaw last year. After the initial healing period, I started to wear a special upper denture that had flange cut to avoid direct pressure over the newly added bone. Since the special denture didnt fit at all, I have been using seabond adhesive for over 3 months. I now guess the upper denture adhesive is what caused excessive bone loss to my lower jaw implants. I dont know what ingredient of denture glue that can increase the amount of certain bacteria around the implants and contribute to the bone loss. Having the denture glue 10 hours (or longer) a day is all I can think of the biggest change that has happened to my mouth. I remember one day that I felt burning pain on my lips after I talked several hours. I think my tongue put saliva + glue on the lips while I was talking and it caused the pain. Please let me know if it is a ridiculous guess or may really be the cause. One thing I know, I have to stop the expedited trend of bone loss. But How? Gum grafting and bone grafting? What is the success rate of doing gum grafting around the implant thread? What is the success rate of doing bone grafting around the implant thread? Do we need to smoothen out the implant thread to increase success rate? How long can the added grafted bone material (from my own bone, or synthetic, or bovine) can stay attached to the implants, 1 yr, 5 yr, or longer? From what I read online, bone repair around the dental implants does not deliver a promising results. Should I go ahead try it? I feel devastated. I had no sleep in two nights. Please help. I will arrange another appointment with the periodontist and tell me what I described above. No idea how he could think it is OK while I complained that there was minor bleeding during flossing. Really appreciate you reading my case and providing your opinion. Thanks. Worried patient
Some more background story:
Hi ,Dear Doctor
What is the success rate of the bone grafting (or bone repair) around ailing dental implants (threads exposed)? What is the success rate of the gum grafting around ailing dental implants (threads exposed)? I posted my background story yesterday. Copied here again in case you need to know it to answer my success rate questions.
10 years ago, five 3.75mm x 13mm implants were placed on my lower jaw, on top of which is a fixed hybrid denture. The recent x-ray shows that I lost over 3mm bone around three implants (bone level is at the 3rd and the 4th thread). The implant threads are not above the gum line yet, but pretty close. I have been experiencing minor bleeding while I am flossing one of these three implants for a couple of weeks. Although the implants feel stable and the gum surrounding the implants look healthy, the minor bleeding and excessive bone loss (I think I can call these three implants ailing implants) greatly worries me. I am relatively young and need the implants to serve me for at least 30~40 years. What are my options?
1) Wait until the implant threads above gum line and become unmanageable? What are my options at that time? Can bone be successfully added around the implant threads? Smoothen the exposed implant threads?
2) Gum graft now --- can it prevent future bone loss?
3) Bone graft now --- what is the success rate and how long can the grafted bone last before melting doen?
4) Better hygiene? I am flossing daily and rinsing after each meal, and using hydra floss a few times a day. What else can I do to reduce future bone loss around the implants?
After many years experience with implants, I am starting to realize what was advocated by the doctors that the dental implant can prevent bone loss is not always true. So many troubles can come along with it, which I was not told by my doctor while the implants were placed.
I visited 3 dentists. They visually checked the gum color and took x-ray and didn't recommend me to take any action. But I do feel something is going on around at least one implant. I can see a pocket there and it feels different while I press the tissue (not painful though). Please kindly provide me your opinion. Thanks and lot of appreciation!
Very unlucky patient
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