If you’re interested in getting dental implants, but have been told that you’re deficient in the jawbone area, it may be recommended that you receive a bone graft. While bone grafts have been utilized in the medical field, many patients in Berkeley, CA don’t know that you can have a bone graft to help prepare your smile for dental implants. But you may be asking yourself, how does it work?
What is a Bone Graft?
For those candidates who may have insufficient bone support for a dental implant, we have a procedure that can help you out. A bone graft promotes the depleted jawbone by regenerating new bone tissue. This results in a stronger foundation for the dental implant. Usually the source of bone for bone grafting is freeze-dried bone that is readily available. This usually eliminates the need for obtaining the bone from the patient. The bone is placed in the area of bone deficiency and allowed to grow and increase the bone structure in the area.
Bone Regeneration and Dental Implants
Now that you’ve learned what a bone graft is exactly, you may be next asking yourself why you would need it for dental implants. Well, this goes back to the root of success for dental implants which is the process of osseointegration. This fusion process is what bonds the implant to the bone, but requires a certain amount of bone to be strong enough to fuse with in the first place.
If you have depleted jawbone, the dental implant won’t have enough to bond with and could fail during the process. In order to have that permanence and security, there needs to be a good foundation for the dental implant to fuse with. A bone graft can supply the regeneration that the jawbone needs to grow and strengthen around the implant, thus preventing facial collapse or from your other teeth from shifting.
Soft Tissue Augmentations: What Are They?
Much like how an insufficient jawbone may need a bone graft to fully support the dental implant, similarly gum tissue is needed to support the implant as well. However, this may not be feasible be if the patient is affected by gum recession. In these cases a soft tissue augmentation, otherwise known as a gum graft, may be needed.
A soft tissue augmentation is essentially the same as a bone graft: a sample of tissue is removed from the roof of the patient’s mouth and is transplanted onto the area of gum recession so that there sufficient tissue support for the implant. The new tissue bonds with your natural gums and properly covers the teeth or implant.
Ask Us About Your Dental Implant Candidacy
Are you missing one or more teeth in Berkeley, CA and have been told that you may have insufficient bone or gum tissue support? Don’t despair, as a simple solution is available in the form of a bone graft or soft tissue augmentation. Dr. Dailley is experienced in this restorative procedure specifically to prepare your mouth for the coming dental implants. If you have any questions about the bone graft or gum graft procedures, feel free to contact us to schedule a consultation meeting with Dr. Dailley. During this consultation, Dr. Dailley will evaluate your oral health, discuss your candidacy for dental implants, the cost and financing, and if a bone or gum graft will be necessary for your dental implant treatment.