Bone Grafting Can Help Restore Your Candidacy for Implants
For years, many patients with insufficient jawbone tissue to support dental implants were told that they were not good candidates for the procedure, forcing them to leave missing teeth untreated and risking serious side effects stemming from missing teeth. Thanks to innovative surgical techniques such as bone grafting, Dr. Daniel M. Whiteman can help restore missing or deficient jawbone and prepare you to receive dental implants. Our office in Brookline, MA, performs all surgical procedures in-house, and our staff is aided by state-of-the-art technology and various sedation options to help deliver a comfortable, effective treatment.
Candidacy for a Bone Graft
Although not all patients will require a bone graft before receiving dental implants, there are several reasons why you might have insufficient jawbone tissue including:
- Tooth loss: Untreated tooth loss can lead to bone resorption, or the loss of the bone tissue that previously supported the tooth structure.
- Periodontal disease: Advanced gum disease can spread to the jawbone and affect the structure.
- Trauma: Injury to the jaw can result in jawbone loss.
In order to undergo a surgical procedure, you should also be free of any major health concerns and be healthy enough to undergo oral surgery. While bone grafting can be performed months or years following tooth loss, it is recommended that you consider bone grafting sooner rather than later to prevent further bone loss and more complex oral surgery.
The Surgery
If you suffer from dental phobia, Dr. Whiteman can provide a comfortable level of sedation that helps you feel minimal pain during the procedure. Depending on your needs, Dr. Whiteman will use bone from another part of your body, bone from a donor, or a biocompatible synthetic material to promote bone growth. During the procedure, Dr. Whiteman will create an incision in your gum line and place the bone tissue or grafting material in the socket where your implant will be placed. To improve your healing and keep the new bone tissue secure, he will use a specialized membrane material to seal the bone in place. Once the bone tissue is in an ideal position, he will close the incisions.
For patients who do not have enough vertical room to support dental implants, Dr. Whiteman may also combine bone grafting with a sinus lift to help give you a strong basis for dental implants.
A study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that the success rate of dental implants placed in bone grafted areas was largely the same as the success rate of implants placed in natural bone tissue.
Ensuring a Healthy Recovery
Following any oral surgery, you can expect to experience some minor discomfort, swelling, and tenderness. Certain factors such as smoking or uncontrolled blood sugar can slow down the healing process, so you should maintain a healthy lifestyle to expedite your recovery. In the three to six months following your surgery, your natural bone will grow and eventually replace the bone graft material completely. This results in a fully integrated area of new bone tissue that is capable of supporting dental implants.
Schedule a Consultation
Bone grafting can help patients with jawbone atrophy enjoy the long-lasting restorative benefits of dental implants. A study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that the success rate of dental implants placed in bone grafted areas was largely the same as the success rate of implants placed in natural bone tissue. To discuss whether you are a good candidate for bone grafting, call our office at (617) 731-4746 or contact our office online.
