If you have missing teeth, dental implants may be your best treatment option. They offer a permanent solution, stimulate bone growth and support your dental function. Dental implants are a treatment for everyone with missing teeth. However, if you do not have enough bone to support the implants, you may need  bone grafting, before your teeth restoration treatment. The Frisco bone grafting specialist uses innovative techniques for bone grafting to promote your bone tissue and ensure a successful dental implant. This piece will help you learn more about bone grafting.

What is bone grafting?

Bone grafting is a procedure to rebuild your jaw bone around your teeth. You may need bone grafting if you have had an infection in your jaw bone, such as gum disease. Usually, when you have a jaw bone infection, you are likely to have bone loss, leadin to weak supportive structures.

Bone grafting is also known as ridge augmentation or a sinus lift based on the affected bone. It restores a healthy jawline and enhances your appearance.

Your Lone Star Dental Care provider may recommend bone grafting if you have low jaw bone density and need a dental implant. Usually, you may not benefit from dental implants right away if you also have bone loss. Your provider performs bone grafting first to strengthen your jaw bone so they can support your dental implants.

What are the various types of bone grafting?

There are different methods for bone grafting, including the following.

Autogenous grafts

It involves using a bone from a body part or area you can do without, such as your chin. These bone grafts are highly preferable as they use your body tissues.

Allografts and xenografts

It involves using bone tissue from a donor source. Usually, the donor undergoes a thorough screening to ensure their effectiveness and compatibility. Allografts are from a human donor, while xenografts are from an animal donor such as a pig or cow.

Alloplasts

They are artificial bone grafts, usually made of synthetic materials like calcium phosphate.

The type of bone graft you choose depends on your individual needs and goals.

If you have a bone loss on your gum line ridge, your provider raises the gum over the damaged bone and puts a grafting material below. The grafting material helps promote bone growth underneath the gum line, enhancing your smile.

The bone grafting procedure takes about 45 to 90 minutes.

What is recovery like after a bone grafting procedure?

A bone grafting procedure is complex and may take some time before you can recover or even go ahead with the dental implant treatment.

The two weeks following your bone grafting procedure are critical. Your provider sets and provides specific instructions, including what to eat or drink and how to do it, to prevent complications with your bone graft.

A full recovery from bone grafting may take between three and six months for the graft to form a solid bone mass.

Contact Lone Star Dental Care today to book your consultation or schedule your appointment online.