Dental implants provide the most reliable, permanent solution for tooth loss. For an implant to stabilize and integrate with the jaw, there needs to be sufficient bone along the alveolar ridge. If you’ve lost bone to trauma or decay over time, ridge augmentation (bone graft surgery) may be necessary before you can have implants placed. Bone grafting for dental implants ensures the best possible outcome from your treatment.
Here's what you need to know about bone grafting for dental implants and the ridge augmentation procedure at Peninsula Oral and Facial Surgery.
When having bone grafting for dental implants, there will be a healing period before dental implants can be placed. Healing after bone grafting will take at least four months, but it can be longer in some cases. We will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor the graft so that an implant procedure can be performed once the ridge is ready to support an implant.
Although there can be some pain and discomfort in the days following bone grafting for dental implants, this usually subsides within the first week and there should be no pain or discomfort after two weeks. From here, the body takes control to manage bone grafting for dental implants.
The materials used for grafting provide a structural matrix to support new bone growth. Depending on the material used, the grafting site can also attract cells that adhere to the grafting material, helping to enhance and hasten the regenerative process.
With detailed consultations before bone grafting for dental implants, you’ll have all of the information you need and a road map for healing and recovery.
While ridge augmentation requires surgical intervention to trigger the process, rebuilding bone loss in gums naturally is the aim of the surgery. In rare cases, synthetic materials are used to stimulate bone regeneration. However, in most cases, the grafting material will be sourced from a human donor (allograft), an animal donor (xenograft), or the patient’s native bone (autograft).
Rebuilding bone loss in gums naturally can’t be achieved without the help of a surgical procedure. If you lose a tooth and don’t have a procedure for socket preservation or augmentation, you will lose bone density in the jaw. This can lead to changes in facial structure as well as the movement of surrounding teeth and potential long-term problems like additional tooth decay and loss.
A bone graft for implants will ensure that you are ready to get the best treatment with reliable dental implants that can last a lifetime. A bone graft for implants is recommended in cases where there is extensive deterioration and loss of bone on the alveolar ridge. A bone graft for implants will ensure that you’re a candidate for dental implants while increasing long-term success.
Our surgeons have extensive experience providing procedures like bone graft for implants and are ready to begin your consultation. Detailed treatment planning ensures the best outcome. In some cases, you may be able to have implants placed without a bone graft for implants. Our surgeons utilize advanced 3D scanning methods to plan your surgery based on your unique needs. Book your appointment by contacting us at 650-342-0213.
Ridge augmentation typically performed when a tooth or teeth have been missing for several years or more due to decay or trauma. When a tooth is lost, the root leaves a void in the jaw. While the socket can heal on its own, the bone around it can be lost. Without a root in place, the bone will continue to deteriorate over time. This can lead to changes in the structure of the jaw and even outward changes in the appearance of the face. Without ridge augmentation, there is no stable foundation for the placement of dental implants.
Ridge augmentation restores the natural size and contour of the alveolar ridge. It is performed as an outpatient surgery at Peninsula Oral and Facial Surgery.
In the simplest terms, bone graft surgery is performed by filling a building back an area of missing bone with your own bone harvested from a different area or graft material which your body will use as a signal and scaffolding system to build back its own bone naturally. The grafted site is then covered by the gum flap and a membrane barrier. Over time, the materials used during bone graft surgery will support the growth of new bone, filling in the defect and restoring the ridge to its healthiest state.
Bone graft surgery is performed under anesthesia so the procedure itself is painless. At Peninsula Oral and Facial Surgery, our surgeons perform extensive treatment planning to ensure that bone graft surgery is suited to your unique needs, and supportive of the intended outcome.
If you’re planning to have implants after dealing with tooth loss for months or years, our team can develop a viable treatment plan to build back your missing bone to create a stable foundation to support long lasting dental implants and give you back a functional and beautiful smile.