Your oral surgeon may talk to you about the possibility of a dental bone grafting in Raleigh if your jawbone is too soft or if it lacks the necessary thickness to keep an implant in place. Patients requesting dental implants are screened and evaluated to see if their jawbone is strong enough to support implants.
If the jawbone is insufficient, the surgery is bound to fail. A dental bone graft procedure helps add volume to certain areas of your jawbone where bone density has been lost.
The bone can be taken from any part of your body and then surgically placed in your jawbone. Sometimes your oral surgeon will use a synthetic bone for the procedure. A bone graft may be needed if you want to qualify for dental implant surgery or if you suffer from significant bone loss affecting your oral health.
What You Need to Know About Dental Bone Graft
What Happens During a Dental Bone Grafting?
There are different methodologies oral surgeons use in bone grafting, but all of them follow the same basic principle. First, your oral surgeon will make an incision in your jaw, followed by the attachment of new bone. It’s usually done on patients who have gum disease or missing teeth. These two conditions can cause jawbone loss.
The standard approach is to use bone from your own body, such as the back of your jaw, tibia or hip bone. This type of bone grafting is called autograft. Autografts are the gold standard in bone grafting because they promote fast healing and stimulate bone regeneration.
What Are the Different Types of Dental Bone Grafts?
- Autografts – Involves removing bone from your own body and then adding it to your jawbone. The bone can be taken out of your jaw or hips.
- Allografts – The bone will come from another person. Typically, it is taken out of a cadaver.
- Xenografts – Bone will be taken from other species like a pig or cow.
- Alloplasts – The procedure uses synthetic material like calcium sodium phosphosilicate or calcium phosphate.
Who Qualifies for Dental Bone Grafting?
Why would your oral surgeon recommend dental bone grafting? There are many reasons why you’d need one.
#1 Dental Implant Surgery
The ideal candidates for dental bone grafting are those who wish to replace missing teeth with dental implants but don’t have sufficient jawbone to support them. Dental implants are artificial tooth roots made from biocompatible metal (usually titanium) that are surgically placed in your jawbone. Once the implants have successfully fused with your jawbone tissues (osseointegration), artificial dental crowns are attached next to complete your smile.
If a patient does not have enough jawbone, it’s impossible to achieve complete osseointegration. There’s a tendency that the implants will become unstable and eventually fail.
For successful dental implant surgery, you must have a strong and stable foundation for the implants. According to statistics, more than 800 patients must undergo bone grafting before dental implant surgery.
#2 Tooth Loss
Dentists recommend replacing missing teeth as soon as possible because if you don’t, tooth loss will inevitably result in bone loss. When you lose your permanent teeth, the bone underneath will deteriorate and lose stability due to lack of stimulation.
Your teeth promote bone growth stimulation because of biting and chewing. When you lose your teeth, your jawbone will no longer receive stimulation causing bone resorption. Bone grafting can help stop bone loss progression.
Is Dental Bone Grafting Painful?
Dental bone grafting is considered a minor procedure. Nevertheless, you will be sedated so that you won’t feel any pain. However, once the anesthesia starts to wane, you may experience some discomfort, but the good news is that you can manage it by taking over-the-counter painkillers. Recovery can take days to weeks, depending on the extent of the bone loss.
If the bone was taken out of your body (autograph), you will be getting surgeries from two different locations. But, if the amount of bone is only minimal, you should recover fairly quickly.
How Should I Prepare for Dental Bone Grafting?
Your dentist will brief you during your consultation. You must avoid taking anything (food and drinks) eight to 12 hours before the surgery. The amount of time will also depend on the type of anesthesia administered.
It’s also important to notify your doctor about the medications you are currently taking, especially if you use blood thinners. Some meds can increase your risk of bleeding complications. Let a family member or friend drive you home after the surgery since you will still be groggy, and driving may not be safe for you.
How Is It Done?
A typical dental bone grafting procedure involves the following steps:
- First, you are given anesthesia before the surgery. Your vital signs are closely monitored throughout the surgery.
- The area is cleaned.
- Your surgeon will incise your gums to expose your jawbone where the bone graft will be embedded.
- The new bone is placed between two areas of bone that should grow together.
- A dissolvable adhesive and screws are used to secure the bone graft in place.
- The incision is stitched back so that the healing process can start.
Do You Need Dental Bone Grafting in Raleigh?
Bone loss is not just a cosmetic concern. If bone grafting is not done, you’ll be at risk of long-term health problems. Luckily, this procedure is safe with a high success rate. At Tyron Family Dentistry, we provide superior quality dental services to help restore your oral health. Contact us today for an appointment.
