Have you been informed that dental bone grafting may be in your future? To help you make an informed decision and to give you a basis upon which to base questions for your dentist, we’re going to run through the basics of dental bone grafting.
Dental Implants and Bone Grafting
If you lose a tooth as a result of an infection, injury, periodontal disease, etc., and you are in generally decent health, a safe, satisfactory, long-term solution could be a dental implant. Inserted into your jaw by a dental implant surgeon or periodontology specialist, this artificial tooth root is literally implanted into your gums. Its sole purpose in life is to hold firmly in place a bridge or tooth (implant) crafted by your dental specialist. These bridges or teeth function exactly the same and look the same as your other teeth. Once the process has been completed, they should feel relatively natural.
In addition to the obvious aesthetics, because they can be supportive of neighboring teeth, they can also assist with the health of your surrounding teeth. When it comes to the insertion of a dental implant, a necessary part may entail bone grafting.
The Surgery
Performed in stages, dental implant surgery commonly goes like this:
- Removal of the damaged tooth.
- Prepare the jawbone for surgery – this may include a bone graft. Lost bone can be regenerated/replaced by a bone graft. Additionally, your facial contour can be restored. If a lost tooth is due to injury, decay, rot, or trauma, bone loss may have occurred and deterioration may have begun in the jawbone. In this case, the dental implant will have a more solid base thanks to the use of a bone graft.
- After healing, a metal post/dental implant is placed in the jawbone. This is what the new artificial tooth or teeth will be attached to.
The Aftermath
It is not uncommon for an implant process to include a bone graft. And though necessary in some cases, be aware ahead of time that they are time-consuming. Many individuals experience discomfort after surgery including the following:
- minor bleeding
- bruising
- skin or gum swelling
Chances are, this discomfort will subside relatively quickly. While their mouth heals, implant patients will also be restricted to a specific diet, i.e., soft foods. This is to be expected after every stage of an implant/bone graft procedure.
Typical Recuperation
Though completely and totally dependent upon every individual’s situation and their dental specialist, the procedure for a bone graft can take up to 90 minutes or slightly less. An approximate two-week recovery period can initially be expected. In most cases, after the bone graft procedure, a solid bone mass waiting time can run as long as six months or less.
Dr. Alex Rubinov will give you a smile to be proud of. Whether you need to restore your once beautiful smile, or would like to pursue having the smile you’ve always dreamed of, we offer the procedures, techniques, and personnel to help you do just that. From general dentistry to specialized, reconstructive or restorative dentistry to cosmetic dentistry, we’ve got you covered. Contact us to schedule an appointment or consultation today.