Your smile is the first thing anyone notices about you. A great smile requires healthy gums and bright white teeth. If even a single one is missing, complete jaw suffers. There is a chance that other teeth shift their positions to fill the space, hence affecting the facial look and spoiling your smile. So, it is time for dentures or dental implants. An implant is a permanent solution in which an artificial tooth fills up space and, in some time, starts functioning naturally. However, in many cases, there is a need for bone grafting before the implant. Firstly the badly decayed or damaged tooth is removed to save the other teeth and stop its spread. Now bone graft after a tooth extraction is performed. This gives strength to the bone to hold the implant.
Bone graft after tooth extraction
After tooth extraction, bone grafting follows. This procedure will take around half an hour or a bit more. After the process, the gums and teeth will need extra care for a few days until the site heals up. It will take time for the new bone to take its place and hold the grip inside the gums. The recovery period might extend up to a few weeks, depending on the person’s oral health. Once the new bone settles, and the place is back to normal, the next treatment stage starts. For dental implants, the person has to wait for a few months after the jaws are strong enough for the procedure.
Bone graft after the loss of mild bone
If the empty socket stays for a longer time due to the loss of teeth, the area’s bone starts losing its strength. Hence, to prepare the gum for an implant, there is a need for more bone. Usually, the bone used comes from the patient’s own body. This makes the procedure safer, and the chances of infection lessen. It requires two incisions, the first in the area from where the bone comes and the other in the gums. After giving a few months’ gap, the bone adjusts and takes its place. After this time, the gums are ready to fit the new tooth.
Bone graft after a massive amount of bone loss
Few gum diseases and infections make the gum weak. If the tooth is missing for a long time, the bone loses much of its strength, becoming weak; hence it requires a massive amount of bone. In this case, the first option is using the patient’s bone for grafting. However, a freeze-dried bone from someone else is also an option. A combination of both bones is also acceptable. The bones are joined together to form a support mechanism and fixed inside the empty socket in such a way that it grows new bone cells. Within a couple of months, the cells will multiply and increase bone density, making them stronger. The new tooth is ready for an implant, and in some time, the natural facial look returns along with a healthy smile.
Want to know more about the bone graft after tooth extraction, talk to our team. To schedule an appointment with Brookshire Smile Dental, Call at 281-934-1010 .