25. ICOSIM Weekly 1. Failed augmentation - A letter from a patient documents the need to use a device to measure bone density in augmentations

Dear friends of ICOSIM and
jawbone osteoimmunology,

In this weekly, I present a case study of a patient that documents the need to use a device for measuring bone density in augmentations:

„I had an implant from SDS, with internal sinus lift, inserted by a specialist about 2 years ago. After a healing time of 7.5 months, the implant was removed again, because it started to wobble 2 weeks after the crown was placed. The dentist pulled the implant out again.

After the implant removal, I suffered from dizziness for days. I also have joint pain since then, which I never had before.

I am 58 years old and basically healthy, have good teeth (first denture) and have a
good immune system. My D3 level (87 ng/ml) and other nutrients are very well
present according to blood count.
Therefore, it is unclear why the implant did not hold.“

My answer 1:

a) To your case:

The colleague works with his bone augmentations – like many other dentists – without knowing whether this artificial attempt was successful, because he has no device to determine the bone density of his augmentation so firmly that the inserted implants now hold or not.

With an ultrasound sonography, performable with a CaviTAU® device, he could have checked that and the implant would not have fallen out after loading (by the way, you are not an isolated case; the internet is full of such complaints).

Answer patient: „In addition, I am still looking for the right way (implant and bone augmentation including material) and a specialist whom I can trust in this regard. My mother (81 years) got very many implants (no SDS) inserted within one year. She has been physically and mentally very bad since then. Meanwhile, there are expert opinions on her and she was advised to make claims for damages against this dentist.“

My answer 2:

b) The problem lies in the constant x-raying and trusting that x-rays reliably show the bone density in the jaw.

BEFORE the implantation – then implants are inserted in not well healed jaws and the patient suffers from reactivated old inflammations (case of your mother).
BEFORE the implantation in bone augmentation – then the dentist does not know whether this augmentation has already healed so firmly that the implant holds (your case).

c) To determine the bone or augmentation density in case a) and b), there is the possibility to use the – radiation-free (there is also a radiation protection law for dentists) – ultrasound sonography with the help of CaviTAU® to avoid cases a) and b) in the interest of patient protection.

Unfortunately, the above-mentioned patient is not an isolated case, as the internet in the USA shows: