If you are considering getting dental implants, you are already on the road to restoring your smile. Since dental implants are surgically placed and inserted into the jawbone, one of the questions our Coral Gables patients ask is whether they will need a bone graft before the procedure.
We encourage you to visit our dental office for an examination and X-rays so we can answer this question based on your health. You can schedule an appointment by calling (305) 614-2438.
Bone augmentation can be performed multiple ways, but the purpose of the procedure is to build bone so your jawbone becomes denser and stronger.
The jawbone can deteriorate due to resorption. Within the first year of tooth loss, you can lose up to 25% of your bone density in that area. It only continues from there because teeth and their roots stimulate the jawbone, keeping the cells healthy. When teeth fall out, that stimulation goes away, and the body begins to leach calcium from the jaw for use elsewhere. If you know that you are going to lose a tooth, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment to discuss tooth replacement. We have options that can prevent or limit resorption.
You can also lose bone density due to periodontal (gum) disease, a developmental defect, injury, decay, or infections. Visiting Gables Exceptional Dentistry for preventative care reduces these risks.
If you have lost bone density, your jawbone may no longer be thick enough or strong enough to support an implant. Because a dental implant is surgically placed in your jaw, your jawbone must be dense enough to support it. A bone graft can increase the density of your jawbone so the titanium post is a perfect fit.
We may use your bone or processed bone. We also have new technologies that may not require bone at all but can work to transform cells into bone. However, this new technology may not work for everyone.
Before performing a bone graft, we will take images using a CT scanner and create a treatment plan. Additionally, you will need to decide whether you want to use processed bone or have bone taken from somewhere else in your body.
You will be numbed and possibly put under anesthesia. We will then make an incision will be made in your gum tissue and create a flap so your bone is visible. This allows us to identify exactly how much bone needs to be placed there. If bone is being taken from somewhere else, an incision will be made so the bone can be extracted at this time. Grafting material will be placed where the bone once was, and that area will be stitched up. Next, the new bone will be anchored to your jawbone using a titanium screw. Other grafting material may be used to surround the new block of bone. Afterward, the area will be closed and sutured.
Immediately following your bone graft, you will be very sore. To manage your discomfort, you can take ibuprofen and use ice packs for fifteen minutes at a time. You will also be given antibiotics to take, and you want to use an antibacterial mouthwash to prevent an infection. It is essential that you keep pressure off the area and be careful with what you eat for several weeks.
It takes six to nine months to complete your procedure because your body will either be building new bone around the grafting material or fusing your jawbone with the bone that was added. Naturally, this is a slower process, but once complete, your dental implants can be placed, and they should be far more secure as a result.
Yes. You may be a candidate for mini dental implants, which may work if you have limited bone density in your jaw but are not interested in having a bone graft. Mini implants are shorter and wider, making them an alternative for patients who have experienced resorption.
The best way to find out if you need a bone graft is to call (305) 614-2438 and schedule an appointment with Gables Exceptional Dentistry. We will take X-rays and let you know if your bone is lacking density. We can then create a custom treatment plan for you and let you know if you need to see a specialist.