Bone Grafting for Implants in Four Steps
Without a doubt, dental implants are the most effective way to replace missing teeth. The stability, durability, and comfort of implant-supported restorations are unrivaled. Many of these advantages are the result of osseointegration, a biological process. The implant screw and your jawbone fuse together during osseointegration to form a strong bond. It’s also why implants have a high success rate of 95-98 percent. However, adequate bone quality and quantity are required for an implant to succeed.
Our mission at Rockwall Oral Surgery is to provide our patients with safe and effective solutions. Bone grafting is usually recommended if your bone is too thin or soft to keep an implant in place. Bone grafting is a fantastic way to promote bone growth and lay a solid foundation for a dental implant.
Bone Grafting: A Step-by-Step Guide
Bone grafts can come from various sources, including you, another human, an animal (usually a cow), or synthetic materials. Depending on your situation, the dentist will determine the type of material you will receive.
Bone grafting is a broad term that refers to a variety of procedures. The method we use will be determined by the location in the mouth, the amount of bone loss, and the time since tooth loss. To preserve the bone and structure of a recently lost or extracted tooth, we may fill the socket with graft material. If the tooth was lost or extracted many years ago, a larger graft might be required. Patients who have lost all teeth or already wear dentures may require a more extensive bone graft.
The following is an example of a bone graft procedure:
- Step one: A local anesthetic will numb the area and relieve pain. Other sedation options are available for patients who are uncomfortable with the surgical procedure.
- Step two: To expose the underlying bone, the surgeon will make a small incision in the gum tissue.
- Step three: The surgeon will place the graft material onto the affected area.
- Step four: The surgeon will suture the incision.
After that, you’ll have to wait, usually several months, for new bone to grow. The graft material will be wholly absorbed into the new bone by the end of the procedure. We can proceed with the rest of the implant procedure once the new bone has fully developed. If the graft is minor enough, we may place the implant right after the procedure in some cases.
You may experience some minor swelling, bleeding, and soreness in the days following your graft. An over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen, can usually be used to treat this. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to reduce the risk of infection.
Bone Grafting at Rockwall Oral Surgery
Bone grafting can help you live a better life. Grafting allows you to receive the best possible tooth restoration on the market, in addition to restoring or halting the deterioration of your bone. Dental implants not only provide better aesthetics, comfort, durability, and longevity, but they also prevent bone deterioration in the future. Call (469)757-4433 to schedule an appointment with Rockwall Oral Surgery today.
