title: Do dental implants preserve and maintain alveolar bone?
abstract: Dental implants have been touted as capable of playing an active role in the maintenance of alveolar bone height, despite the lack of a sound biological basis to support this proposition. This paper reviews the biology of bone loss, the literature concerning alveolar bone remodeling in both the postextraction period and long term, and discusses the literature regarding the influence dental implant placement has on this process. Based on current evidence, implants do not have an active role in the preservation and maintenance of alveolar bone height. Following extraction of a tooth, no external influence has been identified that will prevent loss of bundle bone or alveolar bone remodeling. Additionally, the magnitude of change is patient, site, and time dependant. Further supporting evidence is required before it can be concluded that dental implants are capable of influencing alveolar bone remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Jessica E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yeung
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000502:physiology*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants
keywords: alveolar bone; alveolar bone loss; alveolar bone remodeling; dental implant; extraction socket remodeling