Many people believe that once a tooth is gone, the area is no longer a health concern. However, my own experience reveals a different reality. I recently had surgery to address two significant infections sitting deep in my jawbone where teeth had been removed—one nearly 20 years ago and the other in 2018. For years, these infections remained hidden, potentially compromising my systemic health.

By looking at a Meridian chart, I could see a direct relationship between these specific areas of the jaw and certain health issues I was facing. Since having these sites properly cleaned and restored, the health issues I had been experiencing have resolved.

When Bone Doesn’t Heal the Way It Should
When a tooth is removed, the expectation is that the socket closes, the bone fills in, and the area stabilises. For many people, that’s exactly what happens. But in some cases—particularly when the original tooth was infected, or healing conditions weren’t ideal—the bone can remain chronically inflamed without ever producing obvious symptoms. The area looks quiet on a standard X-ray. There’s no pain. Life continues. Meanwhile, the immune system continues to manage a low-grade infection that it was never equipped to clear.

Addressing this properly requires more than placing an implant into the space. The site itself needs to be resolved first. In my case, the opportunity arose while attending a training with Swiss Biohealth in Kreuzlingen, where the team opened each site surgically, debrided the compromised tissue, and irrigated and sterilised the bone. A cone-beam CT scan—the same 3D imaging we use for implant planning—had made these infections visible where conventional X-rays had not. Once the sites were thoroughly cleaned, my own blood was processed into platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and placed into the space. PRF concentrates the body’s own healing factors and supports bone regeneration without introducing foreign material. Only once that biological groundwork was in place were the ceramic implants positioned.

How the Restoration Progresses
Four and a half months on, both ceramic implants are firmly set in the bone. The surrounding gum tissue is nice and tight—exactly what healthy integration looks like—and it shows clearly on the 3D imaging we use to monitor these cases.”

The final steps toward a functional tooth are straightforward from here. In about a month, the small protective caps will be removed and a permanent abutment screwed onto each implant. A laboratory-made crown is then fitted to the abutment, finally filling the space with a new, non-infected tooth.

Possibilities in Modern Biological Dentistry
It is an exciting time to be a biological dentist. We now have the tools to immediately replace dead or root-filled teeth with ceramic implants, making the process considerably more convenient for patients than before. My personal journey also serves as a reminder of the importance of looking back at old, empty spaces.
If you have missing teeth from years ago, these sites can be evaluated using modern 3D cone-beam imaging to ensure no chronic infection remains. Bone integration timelines vary from person to person—in my own case, four and a half months saw both implants firmly set and the surrounding tissue healthy and tight. Combining 3D technology with PRF offers a predictable way to clear hidden infections and restore the integrity of the jaw.

Dr David Cowhig, the founder of the Dental Wellness clinics, is a pioneer in holistic metal free dentistry & aesthetics, providing scientific-based biological dentistry. We support you as an individual and take into account the variety of factors that can lead to dental and oral health problems. We believe passionately that creating health and beauty around us is an integral part of life and you will feel these qualities in our dental care. You can find us at The Gap in Brisbane, focussing on holistic aesthetic total metal-free dentistry.

Contact Dental Wellness on 07 3511 1399 or email [email protected].

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