1. The Basal Dental Implant Association
2. Treatment
3. Bone loss

the benefits of Basal Implants to treat Bone Loss

Why choose basal implants for bone loss?

Basal implants are specially designed for patients who suffer from severe bone atrophy after tooth loss. The main advantage is that basal dental implants are longer than conventional implants and are fixed into the cortical bone, which is the hard, deep bone of your jaw. This cortical bone does not disappear after tooth loss like the soft cancellous bone does.

With basal implants, you avoid months of healing time, multiple surgeries, and the high costs associated with bone grafting and sinus lift procedures. And you avoid the risk of complications associated with zygomatic implants. You get immediate results with a full set of functional teeth that restore your ability to eat normally and smile with confidence.

What is Bone Atrophy?

How does my jawbone lose density after tooth loss?

Bone atrophy is the loss of bone density and volume in your jaw after you lose teeth. When your teeth are gone, the bone cells of the jaw bone are no longer stimulated to regenerate and its volume shrinks. Without this stimulation, the soft cancellous bone that held the root of your teeth begins to break down and disappear.

How does bone loss occur?

What causes my jawbone to shrink after losing teeth?

Bone loss happens because your teeth and their roots provide essential stimulation to your jawbone. When you chew, the pressure travels through your tooth roots into the jaw bone, keeping the bone cells active and healthy. Once a tooth is lost, this stimulation stops, and your body begins to reabsorb the bone tissue.

This bone resorption creates serious problems. Your remaining teeth become unstable and may shift position or fall out. Your facial structure changes, making you look older. The jawbone becomes too thin to support conventional dental implants without additional procedures like bone grafting.

Treatment for Missing Teeth and Bone Atrophy

What are my options to replace missing teeth when I also suffer from a lack of bone?

When you have severe bone loss, your treatment options become limited. Conventional dental implants require sufficient bone volume to anchor properly, which means most patients with bone atrophy need bone grafting first. However, bone grafting is expensive, takes 4-6 months to heal, and often fails in patients with advanced bone loss.

Basal dental implants provide the ideal solution because they work differently. Instead of relying on the soft bone that has disappeared, basal implants are fixed into the deeper cortical bone. This hard bone layer is unaffected by tooth loss and provides excellent stability for basal implants.

The treatment is straightforward. Your dentist places 8-10 basal implants along the full length of your jaw, including tubero-pterygoid implants behind your sinuses to replace back teeth. Within 3-5 days, you receive your permanent dental bridge with a full set of teeth. You can eat normally and return to your daily life immediately.

Advantages of Basal Implants for Bone Loss

How do basal implants compensate for my lack of bone?

Basal implants offer multiple advantages that make them superior to conventional implants for patients with bone loss. The key benefit is that you avoid all the additional procedures conventional dentists would require, such as bone grafting, sinus lift, and zygomatic implants.

Because basal implants are longer and fixed into cortical bone, they provide immediate stability. Your dentist can place all the implants and attach your temporary bridge on the same day. Within a few days, you receive your permanent bridge and can begin eating normally. The entire process takes just one week instead of 8-12 months with conventional implants and bone grafting.

NO Bone Graft

Why do basal implants avoid the need for bone grafting?

Basal implants eliminate the need for bone grafting because they do not rely on the soft cancellous bone. Conventional implants are short and must be placed in the soft bone that holds tooth roots. When this bone has resorbed due to tooth loss, conventional dentists have no choice but to perform bone grafting to rebuild the missing bone volume.

Basal implants solve this problem completely. Because they are longer, they reach down into the cortical bone layer that remains strong and intact regardless of how much soft bone you have lost. The cortical bone provides excellent anchorage without any need for grafting procedures. You save time, money, and avoid the pain and risks of additional surgeries.

NO Sinus Lift

Why do basal implants avoid the need for a sinus lift?

Sinus lift procedures are commonly required with conventional implants when placing implants in the upper back jaw.  But, basal implants avoid sinus lift completely through strategic placement. Your dentist uses pterygoid implants that are positioned behind the sinuses rather than underneath them. These longer implants anchor into the pterygoid bone at the back of your jaw, providing excellent support for your back teeth without disturbing your sinuses. This approach is safer, faster, and more comfortable than sinus lift procedures.

NO Zygomatic Implants

Why are basal implants a better solution than zygomatic implants?

Zygomatic implants are extra-long implants that conventional dentists use when the upper jaw has severe bone loss. These implants pass through the maxillary sinus and anchor into the cheekbone (zygomatic bone) instead of the jaw. While this approach avoids bone grafting, it comes with an increase in the risk of complications.

Basal implants provide a better alternative. Instead of passing through the sinuses like zygomatic implants, basal implant dentists use pterygoid implants that are positioned behind the sinuses. This approach eliminates the risk of complications and chronic infection like sinusitis.

Tubero-pterygoid Implants

How do tubero-pterygoid implants compensate for the lack of bone?

Tubero-pterygoid implants are specialized basal implants that are fixed behind the sinuses in the pterygoid bone. This bone is located at the very back of your upper jaw and remains dense and strong even when you have lost significant bone in the front areas because it is part of the cranium.

These longer implants allow your dentist to recreate the full functionality of your mouth, including the back molar teeth that are essential for chewing.

Disadvantages of conventional dental implants

What are the limitations of conventional dental implants for treating patients with bone loss?

Conventional dental implants face serious limitations when treating patients with severe bone loss. The fundamental problem is that conventional implants are short and designed to be placed in the soft cancellous bone that holds natural tooth roots. When this bone has resorbed due to tooth loss, conventional implants have no stable foundation.

To compensate for inadequate bone, conventional dentists must perform bone grafting and sinus lift procedures. These add 4-6 months to your treatment timeline, double or triple the cost, and carry significant risks of failure. Even with bone grafting, the success rate for conventional implants in patients with severe bone loss is lower than in patients with healthy bone.

The conventional approach also limits the number and placement of implants. Most conventional dentists use the All-on-4 or All-on-6 systems, which place only 4-6 implants in the front part of the jaw. This leaves the back areas unsupported, meaning you cannot chew properly with molar teeth. The bridge is cantilevered beyond the last implant, creating stress and increasing the risk of implant failure or bridge breakage.

Limitations of the All on 4 system

What are the problems of using the All on 4 system to treat bone loss?

The All-on-4 system has become popular in conventional implantology, but it has significant limitations for patients with severe bone loss. The system uses only four implants per jaw, with the back two implants angled to avoid the need for bone grafting in most cases.

However, four implants provide insufficient support for patients with severe bone atrophy. The forces of chewing are concentrated on just four points, which creates stress and increases the risk of implant failure over time. Additionally, because the implants are placed only in the front part of the jaw, the dental bridge must extend backward beyond the last implant to provide back teeth. This cantilevered design is mechanically weak and prone to breakage.

The All-on-4 system also fails to recreate the natural functionality of the mouth. Without implants supporting the back molar area, you cannot chew tough or fibrous foods properly. Many patients with All-on-4 report difficulty eating meat, raw vegetables, and other foods that require strong molar chewing. In contrast, basal implantology uses 8-12 implants per jaw, including pterygoid implants at the back, which provides superior stability and full chewing function.

Comparison of Basal and Traditional Dental Implants for Bone Loss

How do basal implants compare to conventional implants for my situation?

The differences between basal and conventional implants become most apparent in cases of severe bone loss. Understanding these differences helps you make an informed decision about your treatment.

Implant Length and Placement:

• Basal Implants: Long implants (up to 52mm) fixed in hard cortical bone
• Conventional Implants: Short implants (8-15mm) placed in soft cancellous bone

Treatment Timeline:

• Basal Implants: Complete restoration in 3-5 days with immediate loading
• Conventional Implants: 8-12 months including bone grafting, healing, and multiple surgeries

Number of Implants:

• Basal Implants: 8-12 implants per jaw for maximum stability
• Conventional Implants: 4-6 implants per jaw (All-on-4/All-on-6)

Additional Procedures Required:

• Basal Implants: None – no bone graft, no sinus lift, no zygomatic implants
• Conventional Implants: Bone grafting and sinus lift required for severe bone loss

Success Rate:

• Basal Implants: 95-98% success rate, even with severe bone loss
• Conventional Implants: Lower success rate when bone grafting is required

Chewing Function:

• Basal Implants: Full functionality including back molar teeth for normal chewing
• Conventional Implants: Limited back support, difficulty with tough foods

Cost:

• Basal Implants: Higher initial cost but no additional procedures
• Conventional Implants: Lower initial cost plus expensive bone grafting and sinus lift

Alternatives to dental implants

What are the alternatives to dental implants for treating missing teeth with severe bone loss?

When you have severe bone loss and missing teeth, your options are limited. Understanding the alternatives helps you appreciate why basal dental implants are often the best choice.

Removable Dentures: Traditional dentures are the most common alternative. They are held in place with adhesive and rest on your gums. However, dentures have significant disadvantages. They are uncomfortable, slip when eating or speaking, restrict your diet to soft foods, and continue to accelerate bone loss because they provide no stimulation to the jawbone. Over time, as bone continues to resorb, dentures fit even more poorly and become increasingly difficult to wear.

Fixed Bridges on Natural Teeth: If you have some remaining healthy teeth, a dentist might suggest grinding down adjacent teeth to support a fixed bridge. However, this sacrifices healthy teeth and only works if you have sufficient remaining teeth in good condition. It does nothing to stop bone loss in the areas where teeth are missing. And devitalized teeth have a shorter lifespan.

Do Nothing: Some patients choose to delay treatment. This is the worst option because bone loss accelerates once teeth are lost. The longer you wait, the more bone you lose, and eventually you may have so little bone that even basal implants become challenging to place. Early treatment with basal implants stops bone loss and preserves your remaining bone structure.

For most patients with severe bone loss, basal dental implants provide the only effective long-term solution that restores full function, stops bone loss, and avoids the need for uncomfortable dentures or additional grafting procedures. The investment in basal implants delivers results that last for many years and dramatically improves your quality of life.