When you lose a tooth and do not have it replaced right away, it can often result in jawbone resorption. Without the natural stimulation provided by your tooth roots, the jawbone can deteriorate, causing unwanted changes to your facial appearance and making dental restoration more challenging. The solution is bone grafting, a procedure that regenerates bone where you need it most.
Reasons to Pursue Bone Grafting
The most common reason to get a bone graft is to ensure that you have adequate jawbone to support dental implants. Dental implants are titanium posts that are surgically implanted into the jaw. Through a process called osseointegration, the implants fuse with the bone, providing a stable anchor for artificial replacement teeth. Dental implants need a certain amount of bone density to fuse to the jaw. If the bone is not healthy enough, then the implants will fail. Bone grafting increases the volume of the jawbone to make sure the dental implants can successfully integrate with the bone, providing an opportunity for long-lasting smile restoration.
Bone grafting may also be used in other situations where bone loss poses a risk to the integrity of your smile. For example, if you have lost bone volume to gum disease, bone grafting may be part of an extensive periodontal treatment plan. Dr. Streelman of Mercer Island Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery will collaborate with a periodontist to develop the right clinical strategy.
Finally, to minimize bone loss after having a tooth extracted, bone grafting may be used to fill the section of the jaw formerly filled by the tooth. This treatment approach is often recommended if you plan to have the extracted tooth replaced with a dental implant.
Schedule a Bone Grafting Consultation Today
Bone grafting can be a vital step toward making you eligible for successful dental implant placement, allowing you to enjoy a full, healthy, confident smile. To find out more about your candidacy for a bone graft, schedule a consultation with Dr. Streelman at Mercer Island Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery today.