If you have had missing teeth for some time, you may need a procedure called a dental bone graft before replacing them with dental implants. Bone grafting involves introducing ground and sanitized bone material into an opening in the jawbone, providing a framework to support the growth of new, healthy tissue. This procedure restores lost jawbone volume, giving us enough room to place your dental implant anchor.
This article explains the signs that you may need bone grafting before receiving implants, details the procedure, and provides information about the healing process.
Signs You May Need Bone Grafting Before Receiving Dental Implants
1. Your Tooth Has Been Missing for Some Time
If you lost your tooth several months to several years ago, you may need bone grafting before your jaw can support a dental implant anchor. Researchers find that the jawbone loses up to 25 percent of its volume around the socket within the first year after tooth loss.
2. You Have Facial Changes Related to Lost Teeth
Patients who have multiple missing teeth sometimes develop characteristic facial changes. Sunken areas may appear on the face or along the jaw.
3. Digital Imaging Indicates Insufficient Jawbone Volume
As a part of your initial dental implant consultation, we will take sophisticated 3-D images of your head and jaw anatomy using a CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) scanner. If these scans reveal a small or weakened jawbone, we will recommend a bone graft procedure to add volume before implant surgery.
4. You Have a History of Periodontal Disease
Patients with active periodontal disease are generally ineligible for dental implants, but if your condition has been successfully treated, you may be qualified to receive them. Since periodontal disease attacks the bone supporting your teeth, you may need a graft to repair the damage.
5. You Have Suffered a Jaw Injury Impacting the Bone
If your jawbone was damaged in the past, you may need a grafting procedure to restore its strength and volume.
How Dental Bone Grafting Works
Dental bone grafting involves making a small opening in the jawbone and inserting ground, sterilized bone material. Today, most procedures use an artificial bone medium. In some cases, we place a dissolvable membrane over the introduced material to keep it in place.
We close the gum over the opening and allow it to heal. Typically, it takes about 6 to 9 months for the new bone to form to the point where dental implant surgery can proceed.
Dental Bone Graft Recovery
Recovering from a bone graft generally presents few, if any, issues. You will likely experience minor discomfort and swelling that you can relieve with over-the-counter medication and ice packs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bone Grafting and Dental Implants
When is the best time to receive a dental bone graft to support my new implants?
Bone grafting can happen at any time after losing a tooth. Bone grafting can also be performed concurrently with the extraction of your damaged natural tooth, eliminating the extra healing and recovery time associated with performing it as a separate procedure.
What is a sinus lift and when might I need it?
If you need a dental implant in the back of your mouth, you may need a type of bone graft procedure known as a sinus lift. A sinus lift increases the jawbone volume in a targeted area to prevent dental implant surgery from affecting your sinus cavity. If you need this procedure, we will know by examining your CBCT scan results.
What is the success rate of dental bone grafting?
The success rate of this procedure is about 90 to 95 percent. With bone grafting, dental implants generally succeed in over 95 percent of cases.
If I need a dental bone graft for a sunken jaw, can I achieve a natural, healthy smile?
You have an excellent chance of reversing changes to your appearance and regaining confidence in your smile once again.
How long does it take a bone graft to heal?
Your gum will heal quickly, but the graft itself takes about 6 to 9 months to complete, so that you can receive your implant.
At Metrowest Prosthodontics, we serve Framingham, MA, and the surrounding area with expert dental care, including specialty procedures such as dental bone grafts. We put patient care above all other considerations and want you to feel informed about your procedure. Please reach out to us today with questions or to book your consultation!