Bone Grafting
If you’ve lost a tooth, you may want to replace it with a dental implant. However, you may need to undergo a first.
After losing a tooth, there’s a good chance that the bone around the area will deteriorate fairly quickly. This can pose a problem if you want a dental implant because it needs to be embedded in a good, strong bone base in order to be effective. For people suffering from bone loss, bone grafting is a solution.
What Is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting in dentistry is an oral surgery that can restore lost, damaged, or fragile bone in your jaw before you receive . Not only does it replace lost bone tissue in the jaw, it also stimulates regeneration of the tissue in the surrounding area, preventing further bone loss. This is important because if the bone isn’t strong enough to support the dental implant, it can damage your mouth further. Bone grafting provides a solid base that can withstand the pressure of a dental implant.
A Quick Look at the Procedure
Our dentists will let you know your options in terms of anesthesia before the procedure. The surgery itself will be completed in one office visit. You may need to have someone drive you home after the procedure depending on the type of anesthesia that is used.
After your bone grafting procedure, you might notice some discomfort or swelling in the area for the first few days. Our team will talk with you about pain management options so you’ll be prepared. If you notice any unusual symptoms or bleeding that does not stop after 24 hours, please call our office right away.
Over time, your body will replace the bone graft with new bone cells. This process may take several months, and our Grand Rapids dentists will work with you to schedule as many follow-up appointments as necessary to check on your progress. Once the bone graft has been completely replaced with new cells, you’ll be ready for your dental implant procedure.
Learn More
If you’d like to learn more about bone grafting and whether it’s right for you, our Grand Rapids dentists at Bander Dental Group can help. Give us a call at (616) 949-5980 to schedule an appointment today, or contact us online.
You can watch the video below to learn more about when you may need a bone graft and the procedure.
