If you’re considering dental implants to replace teeth, your dentist or one of our highly-trained oral surgeons might have told you that bone
grafting treatment needs to be performed before the implants can be safely placed. If you are unfamiliar with
this
treatment, why it’s needed, or what to expect, you’ll want to keep reading. When performed by an
experienced professional, your jaw can have the structure and volume it needs to hold a tooth replacement
reliably
for many years to come. To learn more or schedule a consultation with our team, give us a call!
What is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is a type of surgical procedure that involves placement of healthy bone tissue into another area of
the
body where it’s needed. It can be performed on any bone in the body, but oral surgeons can easily perform
it
on the jawbone as well. The donated bone material utilized to expand your current bone tissue can come from
other
areas of the body (such as the hip) or from a donated cadaver/lab-created material.
Why Do I Need Bone Grafting?
When a tooth is lost, the bone tissue inside the jaw can begin to deteriorate. In fact, it’s one of the
reasons
why dentists and oral surgeons alike recommend dental implant treatment immediately following an extraction to
minimize bone loss after the tooth is removed. However, if the tooth goes missing for too long, the bone inside
the
socket can resorb back into the body and travel to areas where it’s actually more useful. Once our oral
surgeons place the donated bone into your socket and give it time to heal, it will become strong enough to hold
a
tooth replacement with confidence.
How Bone Grafting Treatment Work?
Prior to treatment, you’ll receive proper anesthesia to ensure no sensation is felt during your surgery.
We’ll also perform detailed X-rays and 3D scans of your mouth and jaw to create a surgical plan of your
bone
graft. Our doctors will closely monitor your vital signs during surgery to ensure a smooth and predictable
treatment. After creating a small incision in the skin and muscle to reach the bone, we’ll take the small
portion of bone needed to kickstart the grafting process, then insert it in between the two pieces of bone that
need
to connect together. Finally, we’ll close the skin and muscle tissue with sutures, then discuss your
aftercare
instructions to ensure proper healing of the area.