What You Need To Know About Bone Grafting Prior To Dental Implant Surgery

Over the years, more and more dental patients requiring tooth replacement services are gravitating towards implants for the primary reason that they offer a permanent solution to tooth loss. These prosthetic teeth are made up of a titanium screw that functions as a root and a custom crown that is designed to look like your natural teeth. Dental implants are undoubtedly superior to tooth replacement alternatives such as dental bridges and dentures.

However, getting a dental implant is not as straightforward as visiting a dentist and setting up an appointment. Instead, patients have to undergo a rigorous examination to ensure that they are viable candidates for this oral surgery. In some cases, the dentist may find that your jawbone cannot adequately support the implant and will prescribe bone grafting. For more on that, this article touches on what you need to know about bone grafting prior to dental implant surgery.

Why Would Your Dental Surgeon Prescribe Bone Grafting?

Before you can understand why bone grafting would be necessary before dental implant surgery, you need to know how the implant is secured in your mouth. As aforementioned, dental implants are outfitted with a titanium screw that works the same way as the roots of your teeth. The main purpose of this screw is embedding into the jawbone so that the implant is secured in your mouth without the risk of it loosening or dislodging.

That being said, some individuals do not have sufficient jawbone density to accommodate the titanium screw. This loss of density can be attributed to a variety of reasons ranging from gum disease, lack of bone stimulation due to tooth loss, oral injuries, and more. Bone grafting reinforces the jawbone so that it is viable for dental implant surgery.

What Does Bone Grafting Surgery Entail?

The first thing you should know about bone grafting surgery is that it is considered minor surgery. Typically, patients are expected to get back to their normal routine in a couple of days. Nonetheless, just because you are not in pain does not mean you are ready for dental implant surgery. Rather, you will have to wait for several months to a year for the bone graft to completely assimilate with your jawbone and, consequently, make it strong enough for a dental implant. So what steps are involved?

Firstly, the dental surgeon will administer anesthesia before cutting an incision into the gums on the implant site. Second, the dental surgeon will clean the exposed jawbone thoroughly before installing the graft material. Once the bone graft is in place, your gums are sewn back together. Lastly, the surgeon will then dress the wound to protect the site from external factors such as impact, food particles, and so on.

Contact your dentist to learn more about dental implant surgery

Share