Does bone resorption continue after an implant is placed but before loading occurs?

Question

I am in the process of having an implant placed (tooth No. 30).  I know that bone resorption occurs from the time of tooth extraction until the time the implant is placed.  But does bone resorption also occur from the time the implant is placed until the time the abutment and crown are placed and loading on the implant takes place?

Answer 1

Once a tooth is removed, the literature shows that bone will be lost in the area of the extraction in height and width. This occurs at different rates, depending on the remaining bone, a person’s health status, and if they smoke or not.

I usually wait 3 weeks after an extraction to place an implant, so that infection can be cleared up and the soft tissue can grow around the site.

Once an implant is placed, it acts like a tooth and stimulates the bone. Bone loss should not occur from that point on.

Dr. Michael Tischler
Woodstock, NY
www.tischlerdental.com

Answer 2

After the placement of the implant the bone still undergoes some remodeling changes while it heals submerged and again the potential for some remodeling after it is loaded is there.

The term resorption I associate with unwanted bone loss, and this could happen even after the implant is placed, in cases where the implant is placed improperly such as too close to the labial plate, or too close to another implant, etc...

Assuming that the implant is placed at the proper level, with enough bone surrounding it, and not subject to detrimental occlusal loads or bacterial infection, the bone level should remain stable.

 I hope this answered your question.

Dr. Carlos Boudet
West Palm Beach , FL
(561) 968 6022
boudetdds.com