Why Would You Need a Bone Graft?
If you are hiding your smile because of missing teeth, our team at Guided Smiles Prosthodontics and Implant Center is here to help. We offer a range of tooth replacement solutions, including dental implants, to restore the health and function of your smile. However, the long-term success of your implant procedure depends on the health and quality of your jawbone. If you have bone loss, Dr. Blackmon may recommend a bone grafting procedure to rebuild the bone in the area, providing a solid foundation for successful restoration.
What Is a Bone Graft?
A bone graft involves placing a grafting material to encourage the body to generate new bone tissue over time, addressing bone loss or deficiency, and restoring the natural shape of the jawbone.
The following is a look at the different types of bone grafts:
- Autografts: Autografts are harvested from your chin, jaw, hip, or other areas of your body. Even though they require a separate surgical site, they have a high success rate and pose no risk of rejection.
- Allografts: Allografts use sterilized and processed bone from a human donor. They offer a safe, widely available, and effective solution to support new bone growth without requiring an additional surgical site.
- Xenografts: Xenografts use bone from animals, usually bovines, that is carefully sterilized and processed to ensure its safety for humans. They are readily available, although they may take longer to integrate with your natural bone.
- Alloplasts: Alloplasts use synthetic bone graft materials created from biocompatible materials that closely mimic the properties of your bone and encourage new bone growth. They carry no risk of immune reaction or disease transmission.
How Does Bone Loss Occur?
Your tooth roots do more than hold your teeth in place. They help stimulate the jawbone, maintaining its health, volume, and quality. If you lose one or more of your teeth due to trauma, extensive decay, or periodontal disease, the lack of stimulation can lead to the bone in the area naturally resorbing and deteriorating, leading to bone loss. This can impact your facial structure and cause your remaining teeth to shift out of alignment, putting your oral health at risk.
Other factors that may cause bone loss include untreated periodontal disease, trauma, the natural aging process, or developmental defects. The good news is that a bone graft can rebuild lost bone, restoring your jawbone health and density.
What Can a Bone Graft Do for You?
Dental implants are the gold standard for replacing missing teeth, helping you regain your healthy, beautiful, and functional smile. They are the closest you’ll ever have to natural teeth. However, bone loss can interfere with the success of dental implants. It can also impact the comfort and stability of traditional dentures, especially when it comes to the lower arch.
In addition to ensuring the success of dental implant placement or denture comfort, bone grafting can save a tooth at risk of loss due to advanced periodontal disease. The procedure helps provide the support needed to keep the tooth in place. At times, we may recommend a bone grafting procedure known as ridge or socket preservation right after extracting a tooth to maintain healthy bone mass in the area, ensuring the success of future implant placement.
What Is the Bone Grafting Process?
The first step in your bone grafting process is a consultation with our skilled and experienced prosthodontist, who will determine the most conservative solution to restore your smile. If a bone graft is right for you, Dr. Blackmon will first numb the area for your comfort before placing synthetic or donor bone grafting material in the treatment area. Soon, your body will begin to form new bone tissue around your graft, rebuilding your jawbone over time.
Why Choose a Prosthodontist for Your Bone Graft Needs?
Prosthodontists are the tooth restoration experts, with at least three years of specialized training after dental school, focused on the intricacies of replacing missing or deficient teeth. They are highly respected and recognized for their skill and experience in using the latest technology and techniques to enhance the health, function, and beautifully natural appearance of your teeth, rebuilding your smile and restoring your confidence.
Bone Grafts Near Me in Ponte Vedra, FL
If bone loss is interfering with implant placement, Dr. Blackmon may recommend a bone graft to provide a stable foundation for the procedure’s success. Our experienced prosthodontist and his dedicated team at Guided Smiles Prosthodontics and Implant Center will ensure you are as comfortable as possible while providing you with top-tier dental care. Call us at 904-395-5501 or schedule an appointment online today!