Bone Grafting for Dental Implants: Purpose and Procedure

Dental bone grafting is done to increase the density of a bone in the part of the jaw where the bone has deteriorated. Dental restoration treatments such as implants function and last longer if securely anchored into our jawbone for support. Hence, for one to enjoy dental implants, they may require bone grafting if they have suffered from bone loss or deterioration. After tooth loss, the jawbone can start deteriorating immediately by either decreasing in height, width, or density. The longer you stay without replacing your lost tooth, the more your bone melts away. Fortunately, dental bone grafting is available if you are considering dental implants near you.

What is Bone Grafting

There are various ways in which bone grafting can be done, but overall, the procedure is the same. An incision is done on your gums, and the bone graft is attached to the jawbone. Bone grafting is usually done on patients who have lost one or more teeth are have gum disease. This is because these dental issues are a significant cause of bone loss.

There are various sources of bone grafts which are:

Allografts. These are bone grafts sourced from another person, usually a cadaver.
Alloplasts. Alloplasts are synthetic grafts made out of materials such as calcium sodium phosphosilicate or calcium phosphate.
Autografts. These grafts are derived from your body parts, jaw, or hips. This type of bone graft will create two surgical sites on your body.
Xenografts. They are grafts removed from other species, such as pigs, cows, or coral.

Bone Graft Procedure

Consultation

Your dentist will first perform an oral examination of your teeth, jaw, and gums. They will request dental structure imaging, such as scans and X-rays, which will be used to determine the extent of your bone loss. The dentist will discuss your options, including a personalized treatment plan to meet your needs.

Preparing For Bone Graft

There isn’t much that is needed when preparing for a bone graft procedure. Here is a checklist of what to do:

• Avoid drinking or eating 8 to 12 hours before the procedure. However, it will depend on the type of anesthesia you will receive.
• Check in with your doctor if you are taking any medications, especially blood thinners, as they can increase bleeding complications during the surgery.
• Make transport arrangements after the procedures since you will be dizzy or drowsy after the surgery.

During the Procedure

To ensure the procedure is painless and comfortable, we will use local anesthesia at Forrest Tower DDS to numb the place. We offer sedation dentistry options for patients with dental anxiety, such as IV sedation. Next, the dentist will create a small cut on your gums. The gums will be moved slightly to expose the jawbone. The area will be cleaned and disinfected before placing the chosen grafting material. Then your dentist may cover the bone graft with a membrane for protection. The final step will be repositioning the gum and closing the incision with stitches.

After the Grafting

After you have received your bone graft, you may experience swelling, pain, and bruising. These are typical side effects after the surgery and will dimmish after a few days. You can relieve the symptoms by taking prescribed painkillers or antibiotics. You could also press an ice pack on the affected side of your cheeks at intervals of 20 minutes on and off.

You may also notice tiny fragments of bones coming out of the site. The pieces will resemble grains of sand or salt, and they shouldn’t be a cause for alarm. Do you have to follow up on dental appointments with your dentist to ensure you are healing as expected as you await your dental implants in Oak Lawn, IL?

Recovering From Dental Implants

Although you will feel fine within a week or two, it will take three to nine months or longer to heal fully. Your recovery success will be determined by various factors such as the type of graft, the area it was placed, and your body’s immune system.

In most cases, one may return to work or school a day after the procedure. But if you had sedation dentistry options, you may require two days off to rest. Contact your dentist near Oak Lawn if you experience:

• Pus around the surgical site
• Increased swelling
• Severe pain
• Have a fever of 101℃ or higher