Tooth loss can cause your jawbone to progressively shrink until it becomes completely resorbed. In fact, the jawbone deteriorates an estimated 25% in the first year after tooth loss.
Jawbone loss can lead to an aged, sunken facial appearance and shifting of remaining teeth. It can also result in a significant decline in the quality and quantity of jawbone available for placing The Exact Smile, our branded dental implants at The Ohio Center for Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery.
In the past, individuals who had been missing teeth for a long time weren’t candidates for dental implants. Today, various types of dental bone grafts in Pickerington, Columbus, and Westerville, OH can help patients with even long-term tooth loss qualify for dental implants.
During your implant consultation at The Ohio Center for Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery, our oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Manraj Bath, will evaluate your candidacy for dental implants, including assessing your jawbone health with diagnostic imaging.
Autogenous bone grafts use your own donor bone, typically taken from your jaw, chin, hip, or another site, which promotes strong, natural bone growth and eliminates the risk of rejection. While this is the preferred type, a drawback is that a second surgical site and procedure are required to harvest the bone, which may not be recommended in some cases.
Allogenic bone grafts are processed donor bone that has been sterilized and freeze-dried, making them safe but no longer living. Rather than forming new bone itself, this type of graft acts as a scaffold that allows your natural bone to grow and fill in the inadequate area.
Xenogenic bone grafts are derived from another species, most commonly bovine, and are highly processed to prevent immune reaction or contamination. Like allografts, they function as a framework for your own bone to gradually regenerate within the grafted area.
The following bone augmentation procedures in Pickerington, Columbus, and Westerville, OH, are based on the location of the new bone needed and the severity of bone loss.
A socket preservation bone graft is often performed during the same visit as a tooth extraction to help prevent bone loss and prepare the site for a dental implant. After the tooth is removed, bone graft material is placed directly into the empty socket where the roots were. The graft acts as a scaffold that supports natural bone growth, allowing the socket to heal and fill in properly.
The alveolar ridge is the bony area of the upper and lower jaws that supports your tooth sockets. After a tooth is removed, the socket may heal initially, but the surrounding bone can gradually shrink and weaken over time.
Ridge augmentation at The Ohio Center for Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery may be performed for cosmetic improvement or to rebuild enough structure to securely support dental implants.
The maxillary sinuses are hollow spaces situated behind your cheekbones and above your upper teeth. The roots of your upper back molars often extend into the sinuses, and after a tooth is lost, little supportive jawbone is left.
A sinus lift in Pickerington, Columbus, and Westerville, OH is recommended when the upper jawbone height is insufficient, or sinuses are too close to the jaw to place dental implants. During sinus lift surgery, Dr. Bath lifts the sinus membrane upward and adds bone graft material between your sinuses and jaw.
Generally, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area and any surrounding areas. We offer nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and general anesthesia and determine the best type of sedation based on your individual case.
After the area is numb, Dr. Bath makes a small incision in your gums and moves the soft tissue back to visualize your jawbone. The area is cleaned and disinfected before adding bone graft material to areas requiring strengthening.
In most cases, a membrane or dissolvable adhesive material secures the bone graft in place. Then your gum tissue is repositioned, and sutures are used to close the incision.
During the first 2–6 weeks, the graft material begins integrating with your natural bone. Between 2 and 6 months, bone regeneration continues to fuse, becoming stronger and more stable.
Full healing and integration typically occur at 6 months, but can take up to 9 months in some patients. During this time, it’s crucial to follow our postsurgical instructions to avoid any complications and ensure successful integration of the graft with your bone.
A bone graft is designed to last indefinitely when it’s supported by a tooth or dental implant. Of course, it’s important to practice good dental hygiene and schedule regular check-ups to ensure your graft remains healthy.
Research has shown that the success rate of dental bone grafting is as high as 97%. While the success rate for bone grafts is high, we’ll discuss the risks before your procedure.
We’ll provide specific dietary instructions following bone grafting in Pickerington, Columbus, and Westerville, OH. You can eat, but it’s important to stick to soft foods and avoid anything chewy or crunchy.
Some swelling around the graft site and mild discomfort are normal. Most patients manage pain or discomfort with over-the-counter medications.
It’s important to avoid any activities that could put undue stress on the grafted area, such as heavy lifting or strenuous exercise. Follow-up visits at The Ohio Center for Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery are essential to ensure the bone graft is integrating without complications.
You may experience light bleeding from your nose or mouth in the days following sinus lift surgery, and you must avoid blowing your nose. While sneezing is hard to control, you should avoid anything that triggers sneezing. This can cause the bone graft material to move, potentially loosening your sutures.
Saline spray can keep your nose moist, and we may prescribe medications to prevent congestion and inflammation, along with pain medicine, antibiotics, and an antimicrobial mouthwash to relieve symptoms and prevent infection.
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