By When you lose a tooth, there is a rapid decline in bone mass. Losing many teeth could mean serious concerns, especially if you want to get dental implants. Fortunately, bone grafting can address these concerns. The procedure is done to address jaw bone volume issues, and you can rely on your dentist in the Newtonbrook West area of North York for bone grafting. Here is a quick recap of various aspects concerning bone grafting.
What causes a decline in jaw bone volume?
There are several factors that can affect your jaw bone volume. The first one is periodontal disease, which can affect the jawbone to the extent that your natural teeth become unstable. The second most common reason is the extraction of teeth. Once a tooth is extracted, there is a decline of up to 60% of the bone surrounding the extraction site over the next few years. Any kind of injury to the jaw could also affect your jawbone.
What is the procedure like?
As the first step, your dentist will check your teeth and gums to determine whether you need bone grafting. In most cases, panoramic X-rays are required to address the current structure and condition of the jawbone. Bone grafting can be done in numerous ways. The most common is an autogenous bone graft, which involves harvesting bone from the patient’s body for optimal results. The second option is an allograft bone graft, which involves using synthetic bone. In some cases, cow bone is used for the procedure, which is a xenograft.
After the bone is harvested from the patient’s body, the dentist will add it to the affected site. The bone will fuse with the existing bone over a period of time. The procedure requires using local anesthesia, which means you wouldn’t feel any pain. There is no downtime, and you can go home after treatment. There could be some discomfort and swelling, for which you will have to take medications. Your dentist may also recommend antibiotics and other prescription drugs to reduce the risk of an infection.
Getting dental implants after bone grafting
Most patients need bone grafting because they want to get dental implants. Implants are surgically put inside the jawbone or above it, and if there is not enough bone mass, the treatment is not possible. With bone grafting, the treatment plan can take longer, but the results are usually excellent. Your second surgery after bone grafting will be that of placing implants.
Ask your dentist about any concerns or questions you may have.
