When Is a Bone Graft Needed for Dental Implants?
Dental bone grafts become necessary if your jaw has incurred a bone loss. Bone grafts are generally performed before dental implant placement or when jawbone resorption adversely impacts the adjacent teeth.
What Are Dental Bone Grafts?
Dental bone grafts are procedures that help add volume and density to areas of your jaw where bone loss has occurred. The grafting material could be from your body, purchased from a tissue bank, or even synthetic.
After placing a dental bone graft, the material holds space in your body to repair itself. Dental bone grafts are similar to scaffolds on which bone tissue grows and regenerates.
Who Might Need Dental Bone Grafts?
Anyone with jawbone resorption generally needs a dental bone graft. You may receive a recommendation for the procedure if you are having a tooth extracted, are considering replacing the missing tooth with dental implants near you, need jawbone rebuilding to get dentures, or have jawbone resorption because of periodontal disease. Dental bone grafts are common and performed by dentists or specialists like periodontists to supplement bone in your jaw.
If you consider dental implants to replace missing teeth after several months of losing them or getting them extracted, the implantologist in San Rafael likely recommends a dental bone graft if jawbone loss affects you. The procedure is straightforward and helps you get the replacement teeth you want with dental implants.
What Happens before Dental Bone Grafting?
Your dentist performs an oral examination to assess your teeth, gums, and jawbone health by taking x-rays and scans to determine the extent of bone loss. After that, the dentist will discuss your treatment modalities and create a personalized treatment plan that best suits your needs.
The Bone Grafting Surgical Procedure
When starting the bone grafting surgical procedure, the dentist numbs the area with local anesthesia. Next, they will make tiny incisions in your gums to move the gum tissue back to expose the jawbone. After disinfecting and cleaning the surgical site, the dentist adds bone grafting material to fix the defects. Occasionally the bone graft is covered with a membrane for extra protection. Finally, repositioning the gum tissue and closing the incision with sutures completes the bone grafting procedure.
Happenings after a Dental Bone Graft
You can expect swelling, pain, and bruising in the surgical site following a dental bone graft. However, the side effects are expected and will subside within a few days. You can manage the symptoms using painkillers recommended by the dentist and taking antibiotics without skipping a dose. In addition, you might notice tiny fragments of bone coming out of the surgical site resembling grains of salt or sand. Although it is not a cause for concern, you can call your dentist to ensure you are healing as expected.
How Long Is Recovery from a Dental Bone Graft?
After getting a dental bone graft, you will likely feel normal in a week or two. However, bone graft healing is different and requires three to nine months or longer. Various factors determine how much time you may need to recover from this surgical procedure, including your general health, the kind of graft placed, and the placement area.
You can return to work or school 72 hours after your surgical procedure. However, if you had chosen sedation, you might require extra days off work to recover at home.
Benefits of Dental Bone Grafts
Dental bone grafts make you eligible for implants or other restorative procedures if you plan to replace missing teeth with dental implants in San Rafael. Dental bone grafts restore your jaw to its original form after tooth loss, periodontal disease, or trauma.
If planning dental implants to replace missing teeth, you need a foundation of adequate bone for your implant placement to become successful. Dental bone grafting helps people without a sufficient bone to get the treatment they desire to replace missing teeth with a durable and permanent solution remaining in the mouth for life. Therefore if the San Rafael implantologist recommends a dental bone graft, it is to ensure your treatment succeeds in giving you strong and durable artificial teeth appearing and function like your natural teeth because dental implants support them.
If you intend to replace missing teeth with a durable solution San Rafael Dentistry is the place to discuss the best option for your needs. They recommend dental bone grafting if you have lost bone in your jaw. Consider the procedure beneficial for your dental implant placement and not a concern. Therefore consult them today by arranging an appointment to plan your dental implant placement as soon as possible.