Getting dental implants involves replacing your tooth roots with metal posts, in order to anchor your new teeth into your jawbone. Implanted teeth are preferable to crowns or veneers for many patients, as they look and function like your natural teeth and are a welcomed alternative to bridgework or dentures, both of which involve special cleaning and refitting. In addition, dental implants offer an effective solution for patients with a lack of natural tooth roots.
Dental Implant Procedure
Depending on the condition of your jawbone and the type of implant, dental implant surgery can involve numerous procedures. A prevalent benefit of getting implants is that they offer a stable support for your new teeth, due to your jawbone healing snugly around the titanium implant. Another important benefit of dental implants is that they don’t decay like natural tooth roots.
Bone Grafting for Dental Implants
Tooth loss can result in loss of function of a bone that works in conjunction with your jawbone to provide a solid support for your teeth, holding them in place. When there is extreme damage to a tooth, this bone – known as the alveolar bone – will begin to atrophy, and this will become worse the longer a patient lives with tooth loss. In severe cases, even your jawbone can atrophy. Bone grafting is the most effective dental procedure for reversing the damage caused by tooth loss, so that implants can successfully bond with your underlying bone and provide a placement area for dental restoration.
Every day that a tooth is missing or severely damaged, bone loss becomes more of a danger. Bone grafting is a painless outpatient procedure, in which the patient is often sedated. This is simply the first step in the dental implant process to restore your dental structure.
The Bone Graft Healing Process
Every patient’s healing process is unique, so it’s impossible to pinpoint an exact time frame for healing from a bone graft procedure. In order for the graft to fuse with your existing bone, it will take time, and regular checkups can track your progress after the bone graft procedure. Healing can take up to twelve months, but once complete, we can schedule an appointment to get your dental implants.
Bone grafting is a relatively routine dental procedure that is necessary when your tooth root structure is damaged to the point of bone loss or atrophy. Contact River Valley Smiles at 479-646-0706 for a no-hassle consultation concerning your personal dental care needs.
