Dental Bone Grafting: All You Need to Know

A dental bone graft is a procedure performed by a dentist or oral surgery specialist. it helps increase the amount of bone in an area of the jaw after bone loss. Bone loss occurs when you have lost a permanent tooth or have severe gum disease. The procedure also helps prevent long-term health issues associated with tooth loss. Read on for more on dental bone grafting in Jackson.

Reasons You May Need Bone Grafting

Some reasons you may require bone grafting near you include:

• Dental implants for a missing tooth

Once you lose a permanent tooth, the bone around it is slowly reabsorbed into the body. If you require a dental implant, a bone grafting procedure is performed to help support it. It provides an adequate base for an implant to be anchored.

• Periodontal disease

Advanced gum disease leads to gum recession. The bacteria causing gum disease eat at the jaw bone. Over time, it leads to periodontal misalignment and teeth loosening. Bone grafting is done to restore the foundation of teeth and strengthen them.

• Dental trauma

Teeth grinding or jaw clenching may result in tooth trauma. These actions pressure the teeth and wear away at the surrounding tissue. A dentist addresses the issue through a bone grafting procedure. The procedure restores function and promotes new bone growth to the affected area.

• Developmental defects

Some people are born with dental defects such as missing facial bones, teeth, and jaw parts. Bone grafting helps restore function and growth in these areas.

Types of Dental Bone Grafts

• Ridge augmentation

When you lose some teeth, the jawbone that supports them grows thin over time. Ridge augmentation is a bone graft procedure to increase the volume and width of a jawbone. It enables the jawbone to support dental implants or dentures.

• Socket preservation

This procedure is performed right away after tooth extraction. The graft is placed in the socket to fill the gap left by the extracted tooth. Our dentist in Jackson performs the procedure to prevent the sides of the tooth socket from caving.

• Periodontal bone graft

Your dentist may do a periodontal bone graft to counter the effects of bone erosion due to gum disease. As a result, your teeth become loose. The graft provides support to a mobile tooth and reduces mobility.

• Sinus lift

When you lose your upper back teeth, the sinus located above them may drop lower. As a result, dental implant surgery may not be possible. A sinus lift is a procedure to raise the sinus to its proper position to enable the placement of dental implants.

Sources of Materials for a Bone Graft

They include:

• Autografts/ autogenous

This is bone grafting using a bone from your own body. The specialist may remove it from the jaw or hip.

• Xenografts

The grafting bone is taken from another species. For example, it may be from a pig, cow, or coral.

• Allografts

Your dentist gets the grafting bone from a different person. This bone is usually from a human tissue bank or a cadaver.

• Alloplasts

Your dentist may use a synthetic material to perform bone grafting. A material commonly used is bioglass.

Bone Grafting for Dental Implants

A dental implant is a tooth restoration technique. it requires placing a titanium post into the jawbone to act as tooth roots. Sometimes, an individual may lack adequate jawbone structure for the procedure. Therefore, a dentist performs bone grafting to restore the jawbone. this e a successful dental implant procedure.

Dental Bone Graft Procedure

You can expect the steps below during bone grafting in Jackson.

• An initial consultation is required to discuss the treatment plan.
• The dentist will provide sedation before the procedure to ensure you remain comfortable.
• If you use an autograph, the dentist will source it from the targeted location. A dental extraction is usually performed at this stage for patients who need it.
• Your dental hygienist cleans the area where the graft is to be inserted. The dentist makes a small incision in the gum tissue to expose your jawbone then attaches the bone graft.
• The area is sutured close to prevent infection and promote healing.
• Complete recovery takes four to six months after the procedure. The dentist in Summit Township, Jackson will provide instructions to care for the area to prevent complications.
• The restoration process continues once the graft embeds itself to your jaw. Our dental experts at Arbor Falls Dental and Wellness carry out a dental implant procedure at this stage.