Hello, and welcome back to our blog here at Pacific Northwest Periodontics. If you recall from last time, we talked a little bit about regenerative procedures and how gum grafting will help you restore lost gum tissue after experiencing gum recession or gingivitis. This time, we’re going to talk about another regenerative procedure called bone grafting. Keep reading to learn more.
What is it?
Bone grafting is a medical procedure that is used to restore lost bone in the jaw. Usually this bone is lost because of a missing tooth. Since the jawbone requires stimulation from the teeth in order to facilitate growth, when there’s nothing there, the bone is lost. This process is called resorption. Bone loss can also be caused by poor oral hygiene or if you have periodontal disease.
Why restore lost bone?
The main reason to restore lost bone is to prevent other teeth from falling out. Whether you lost your tooth due to an injury, poor oral hygiene, or any other reason, the process of bone loss will begin immediately and may affect teeth surrounding it. Bone grafting will allow that bone to regenerate and give you the opportunity to receive dental implants or another tooth replacement procedure.
Socket graft
Also known as a ridge preservation graft, this type of bone regeneration procedure replaces the space left by your tooth so that the bone does not undergo resorption. Usually, xenograft is used to fill the space. This is a bovine bone and is put through a rigorous cleaning process that won’t cause infection or other complications.
Block bone graft
The block bone graft acts as a replacement to the socket graft. If the bovine bone was not able to adequately restore the lost bone, your dental specialist will need to resort to using part of your own bone to perform the restoration. This is only usually necessary in severe cases where too much bone is lost and they’re failing to develop.
Subantral graft
Subantral grafts are used to restore the length of the upper jaw in order to support dental implants.
Dental implants
The ultimate goal of receiving a bone graft is to replace the missing teeth with dental implants. Dental implants are a permanent solution for your missing teeth and can be placed depending on your situation. If you need a single tooth replaced, you’ll need a single implant. However, if you need multiple teeth replaced, you may need two or more implants to support the teeth. If the bone is healthy enough for implants without a grafting procedure, you may be a candidate for same-day implants.
Contact Pacific Northwest Periodontics
If you have a missing tooth, don’t wait to contact a periodontist. The sooner you have a missing tooth replaced with a dental implant, the sooner you can go back to living your life, knowing that you’re at your optimal oral health. Dental implants also restore the functionality and aesthetics of your real natural teeth. Contact us today to learn more.
