Did you know that approximately 120 million American adults have at least one tooth missing? True — and millions more are at risk of tooth loss as a result of periodontal disease and other common oral health issues.
Missing teeth can be humiliating, but they are more than just a cosmetic issue. Teeth stimulate your jawbone, allowing it to grow and maintain its strength. When you lose a tooth, the bone in that area deteriorates, putting nearby teeth and the rest of your mouth at risk.
Tooth loss and extractions are common, but your oral health does not have to suffer as a result. Village Family Dental specializes in oral and maxillofacial procedures to restore jaws, gums, and teeth.
If you’re missing a tooth or need one extracted, bone grafting and dental implants are excellent options for replacing it. It’s time to get more information about your treatment options.
The Advantages of Bone Grafting
Your jaw holds your teeth in place, and your teeth provide something for your jaw to grow around. They work together to help you talk and chew, and a missing tooth creates a gap that affects how your mouth works.
A missing tooth creates a gap in the jawbone. Without a tooth to grow around, that part of your jaw begins to deteriorate. Bone loss can spread over time and cause nearby teeth to loosen. Your facial features may eventually sag, and your overall oral health may suffer as a result.
A bone graft is a surgical procedure that is used to prevent or treat bone loss. It can be done when a tooth is extracted to prevent bone loss from occurring in the first place, but it is also an option if bone loss has already occurred.
Our dentists use a small sample of bone from elsewhere in your body to fill the gap left by a missing tooth in a bone grafting procedure. Your jaw’s healthy bone growth is stimulated by the new bone.
Bone grafts fortify your jaw, allowing you to keep your remaining teeth healthy. Grafting is an important step in many restorative dental procedures, including dental implants, because it provides a strong foundation for the restoration that will last for many years.
How does bone grafting work?
Our specialists frequently advise bone grafting after tooth extraction and as part of dental implant placement. Our team conducts thorough evaluations, which may include X-rays, to determine if you are a good candidate for bone grafting.
On the day of your procedure, we collect a bone sample from your hip, tibia, jaw, or another part of your body. We prepare it and place it in your jaw’s affected area. Depending on the size of the area, we may use stitches to close your gums.
Artificial grafting material is sometimes used in bone grafting procedures. Artificial material attracts bone cells to the area to stimulate natural bone growth, and it can be a good option if bone cannot be obtained from another part of your body.
A sinus lift may be required if you are getting a dental implant in your upper jaw. A sinus lift is performed prior to the bone graft to make room in your jaw for the donor’s bone by lifting soft tissue around your sinuses.
Bone grafting increases the volume and density of the bone in your jaw. More bone naturally grows where the graft was done as your jaw heals. The procedure protects your jaw health and can improve your overall oral health and mouth function for many years.
Village Family Dental provides comprehensive restorative dentistry. Book an appointment online to find out if bone grafting or dental implants are right for you.
