Bone Grafting Vero Beach
Fortify Your Jaw to Support Dental Implants
The health, size, and strength of your jawbone plays a vital role in the success of dental implant treatment. Without an adequate base of support, your implants are much more likely to become loose or fail altogether. That is why many patients require bone grafting in our Vero Beach practice before they move forward with tooth replacement. What exactly does this type of oral surgery involve, and why is it so important? Continue reading below to find out, or contact us directly to request a consultation.
What Is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is a type of surgery in which we expose your jaw and add bone material to it. After we close any incisions and send you home to heal, your body should naturally integrate the graft. This results in a stronger and larger jawbone, which can better support dental implants.
There are different types of bone grafting. For example, we might use donor bone or bone taken from another place in your body. In some grafts, we add small granules into a tooth socket to fill it. Other grafts are more extensive and involve the placement of a small block of bone into the alveolar ridge (the part of the jaw that contains teeth).
Before your bone grafting procedure, we will review your treatment plan with you so you know what to expect, why the surgery is necessary in your unique case, and other relevant details.
Bone Grafting After Tooth Loss
If it has been a while since you lost your teeth, your jawbone has likely lost some of its volume. This happens due to a natural process known as resorption. It occurs because there are no longer tooth roots there to stimulate the bone. Your body senses that the jaw is not being used like it once was, so it starts to recycle the bone.
Over time, resorption can significantly impact both the strength and size of your jawbone. That is why most patients who lost their teeth a while ago will need a bone graft before they qualify for dental implants.
Bone Grafting After Tooth Extraction
Do you have an upcoming tooth extraction procedure? If so, it would be wise to start planning for dental implants now. Let our team know about your intention to get implants. We may recommend that you receive a bone graft immediately after your extraction procedure — possibly during the same appointment. We can add bone granules to the empty socket to preserve the bone’s size and strength. This can prevent the need for additional grafting later on and make sure that your dental implant journey is as streamlined as possible.
What Are the Benefits of Bone Grafting?
On the surface, bone grafting might seem annoying. After all, it is just one more thing you have to go through before your smile is restored. However, this procedure is actually something to be grateful for! Not only can it improve your chances of dental implant success, but it can also fortify your jawbone and help to preserve your face’s natural shape. Ask our team if you want to know more specifics about how bone grafting can benefit you on a personal level.