Data from the 2019 National Health Survey (PNS), conducted by IBGE, reveals that 34 million Brazilians aged 18 or over have lost 13 or more teeth, representing 21.3% of this age group. Furthermore, 14.1 million people have no teeth at all, corresponding to 8.9% of the adult population. The most critical breakdown is that of the population aged 60 or over, where 31.7% has lost all teeth.
The process of bone loss originates from the absence of the tooth. The alveolar bone exists specifically to support the dental element, and when this stimulus disappears, the alveolar ridge loses dimension progressively. A scientific review published in the National Library of Medicine of the United States indicates that without any intervention, the width of the ridge may decrease by up to 50% in the first year after tooth extraction.
The direct consequence of this progressive bone loss is that the longer the interval between tooth loss and implant surgery, the smaller the bone volume tends to be at the time of the procedure. This represents a significant challenge for patients who need dental implants.
Dr. Hugo Robertson, a dental surgeon with specialization in implant dentistry, is mentioned as a specialized reference on the topic, indicating that options are available for patients who face this condition of low bone available for implants.
