If you have recently inquired about having dental implants then it’s quite possible that you might have been informed you need a bone graft for treatment to be completely successful. Initially, this might seem quite worrying but it really isn’t anything to be concerned about as bone grafts are frequently carried out in preparation for dental implant treatment.
Why You Might Need a Bone Graft
When you first see an implant dentist, one of the things they will want to check is how much bone you have in the area where you wish to have dental implants. In order for your implants to be a complete success, they do need to be inserted into a certain amount of healthy bone because they need to fully integrate with your jawbone to provide a strong and stable foundation for your implant teeth.
One of the problems with tooth loss is that it can ultimately lead to bone loss in your jawbone, as without the stimulation provided by your natural tooth roots, old bone cells are not renewed and gradually the amount of available bone will diminish. This can create considerable problems for denture wearers as a denture relies quite heavily on the bony ridge that used to support your teeth for retention. It can also affect the stability of your remaining teeth. This is where having dental implants can be extremely useful as it protects your jawbone against any further bone loss and helps to stabilize your remaining teeth.
When you visit Comfort Smiles, your smile is our top priority. Dr. DuBois and his dental team are dedicated to providing you with the personalized, gentle care that you deserve. Our dentist provides general, restorative and cosmetic dental services designed to assist each patient in achieving and maintaining long-term dental health and a beautiful smile.
What to Expect If You Do Have a Bone Graft
If you do need a bone graft then we have an experienced bone grafting surgeon here at Comfort Smiles Dentistry who has all the necessary expertise and experience to make sure the treatment is a success and that it will be carried out in a way that is comfortable for you. If you only require a very small amount of bone, we may even be able to place the bone graft at the same time as your dental implant but otherwise, it will be carried out beforehand and you will need to allow several months for the grafting material to fully integrate with your jawbone. Although this may add a little extra time to the overall treatment, it’s still well worth it as a properly planned dental implant can last for many years and will provide excellent results.
Where do Bone Grafts Come from?
There are a number of different materials that can be used during a bone graft as for example we can take the bone from another site in your body such as your hip or your chin. This can be advantageous as your body will recognize the bone is being your own so rejection would be extremely unlikely. Another option is to use donor bone which will have been specially treated and sterilized to make sure it is safe for use. These days we often use artificial bone materials which are very sophisticated. These contain growth proteins that help your body to generate its own bone cells, gradually replacing the artificial bone graft. The end result is a strong and stable jawbone that can easily support your new dental implants.
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