How Bone Grafting Helps Dental Implant Success

Dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth replacement solutions because they mimic both function and aesthetics. In most cases, dental implants can restore almost complete function to the mouth, allowing patients to bite, chew, speak, and smile without worry. However, to get dental implants, a patient must have proper jaw bone volume. Bone in the jaw can deteriorate if there are no teeth to stimulate it, or if a patient suffers from gum disease or experiences oral trauma. When deterioration occurs, the bone begins to thin, changing the facial appearance and making surrounding teeth loose. Additionally, with a thinned jaw bone, dental implants won’t have the support necessary to properly be held in place.

 

The Solution for Jaw Bone Loss

If you have been told that you’ve lost too much jaw bone to get dental implants, there is a solution: bone grafting. This procedure can adequately restore the jaw bone to acceptable levels to support a dental implant, provide stability for surrounding teeth, and revitalize the facial appearance. Bone grafting works by adding bone granules to the area of loss, which fuse to the existing jaw bone and effectively rebuild what was lost. Once the jaw heals, implants will have enough bone to be held in place properly.

Traditional Bone Grafting

By taking a small sample of bone from you or a donor source and combining it with bone granules, a biocompatible material is created that is placed over the location of bone loss. Often, anesthesia is used to block discomfort during the procedure, and the patient must heal for several weeks to months before dental implants can be placed.

Sinus Lift Bone Grafting

This advanced form of bone grafting is used when patients have lost bone in the upper back area of the jaw. The reason this special procedure is used is because of the sinus cavity which resides just above the upper molars. When bone loss has occurred in this area, there is very little bone support for implants. Sinus lift treatments gently access this cavity, raise the sinus membrane, and add bone grafting material to restore the area. After the patient heals, dental implants will have the proper support to be placed.

 

Get Prepped for Implants Now

Need a bone grafting procedure today? Looking to get started on the path towards a complete smile with implants? Reach out to your local dentist, Dr. Andrew Ferrier, DDS, in our office in Lafayette, CA to schedule your first appointment with us today!