What Is Bone Grafting?
The bone in your jaw is what gives your teeth strength and stability. When the jaw weakens due to bone loss, you have a higher chance of losing teeth. If you are receiving a tooth restoration, such as a dental implant, that implant will also need a strong foundation to be effective.
Our practice frequently provides bone grafting to patients as a way of improving their oral health and establishing enough bone to support a dental implant. The procedure adds bone replacement material to the area of weakness. The surgery is very common and minimally invasive.
The surgeons at Union Oral Surgery can evaluate whether you should have bone grafting during an initial consultation. Patients benefit from the work of specialists who have performed over 9,000 implant surgeries over their careers.
Why Do You Need Bone Grafting?
It’s possible to lose bone in your jaw to a variety of causes. Two of the most common are:
- Periodontal disease. The plaque that develops on your teeth can spread below the gum line. This can create an inflammatory response that breaks down the tissues and bone that support the teeth.
- Resorption. When you lose a tooth, your body may begin to resorb the bone that held the tooth in place, leaving behind a weakened foundation.
Each of these causes may require a different bone grafting technique. Union Oral Surgery’s doctors have extensive experience in these procedures and can create a treatment plan based on your needs.
Part Of Your Dental Implant Treatment
Patients start by visiting our practice for an initial consultation. If you are exploring solutions for restoring your teeth, your appointment will begin with our implant treatment coordinator (ITC). She will talk with you about procedures, review options that may work for your needs, and answer the questions you have related to treatment.
In the second part of your appointment, you and your doctor will have the time to get to know one another and to talk about the concerns you are having. The doctor will also conduct a thorough examination and discuss treatment, which may include dental implants or implant-supported bridges.
Before conducting the restorative procedure, however, your doctor may recommend bone grafting. Grafts usually need 2-4 months to heal and bond with the existing bone before they are ready to accept implants. Often, you can receive bone grafts at the same time as other procedures.
What To Expect
In the procedure, your doctor will add bone replacement material to the area of weakness. Union Oral Surgery offers a variety of resources to promote your comfort and safety during treatment:
- Our practice provides Wi-Fi, music, and reading material for patients.
- As part of the procedure, your doctor may provide numbing medication to add to your comfort.
- In certain cases, the doctor may use an ultrasonic piezotome tool or erbium laser to for the procedure. These technologies are much gentler and more precise than other surgical approaches, cause little-to-no bleeding, and can allow you to recover more easily.
If you are receiving a restoration after bone grafting, your doctor will use the time that you are healing to plan your next procedure. Having an ITC on staff allows Union Oral Surgery to coordinate your care between different providers—such as your restorative dentist and general dentist—saving you time and effort and helping you get the best outcome possible.
