There are multiple situations in which your dentist may recommend a bone graft. Bone grafting benefits patients who have suffered bone loss in the jaw. Here is what bone grafting is and why it is performed. You might realize you are a candidate for bone grafting solutions to improve your smile, too.
How Bone Grafting Works
When a patient loses single or multiple teeth, those gaps stop natural bone growth. When new bone growth ceases, the jawbone can begin to atrophy. Infections such as periodontitis may also result in a drop in jawbone density.
If you have had missing teeth for a while, your jaw may not be able to support tooth replacements such as dental implants. To restore your former bone density, your oral surgeon will use natural or synthetic bone graft material to strengthen a weakened jaw.
After your bone graft is in place, the healing period takes anywhere from 3–10 months as the bone replacement hardens. Once your surgeon has determined that healthy bone density is restored, you can then get a dental implant to keep your jaw and other teeth healthy.
Types of Bone Grafting
Several types of bone grafts are available, including alloplastic grafts, allografts, autografts, and xenografts.
An alloplastic graft is a synthetic bone graft that oral surgeons construct out of calcium sodium phosphosilicate (a glass-like material) or calcium phosphate.
Xenografts and allografts use organic bone material from other natural sources, while an autograft requires bone from another area of your body specifically.
Common Bone Graft Procedures
Several bone grafting surgeries are available today with advanced oral surgery technology. Two common bone grafting procedures include the sinus lift and the socket graft.
If you have lost bone density after losing teeth or suffering from periodontal disease, a sinus lift can be beneficial. The sinus lift procedure makes room for dental implants by lifting the sinus area and adding bone support to the upper jaw.
A socket graft is a good option for you if you are getting a tooth extracted. The socket graft procedure prevents future bone loss in an extraction site and takes up to 6 months to heal.
Conclusion
A bone graft is ideal for anyone who has lost jawbone density due to tooth loss or gum periodontitis. Bone atrophy can affect patients’ appearance, and confidence as the jaw collapses inward. A bone graft is necessary to restore full jawbone density and function so that you can get a long-lasting tooth replacement such as a dental implant.
At Jackson Oral Surgery, we use the latest technology in oral surgery to keep your smile healthy. Read more here to learn more about bone grafting and what type of graft is ideal for you.