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(858) 358-5801
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28
Jun
A Guide to Bone Grafting to Build up Bone and Prepare your Mouth for Dental Implants
The foundation of successful dental implant treatment is the jawbone. Unfortunately, many patients seeking implant-based restoration already have bone loss. But does that entirely rule out such patients from dental implants? Not at all — patients with bone atrophy can benefit from bone grafting from Dhir Dentistry in San Diego, California, to regenerate lost bone.
What Does a Bone Graft Entail?
Traditionally, bone grafting has constantly harvested healthy bone from other parts of the body (like the chin, jaw, or hip) and transplanted it into the jawbone. However, today there are more sources to obtain bone, including cadavers and animals. These options offer minor morbidity to patients, and you don’t need a second surgical site to deal with. However, the chances of your body rejecting a bone that’s not yours are high.
A bone graft may either be a sinus lift or an onlay graft. If you have low bone mass in the upper jaw, we may suggest a sinus lift, where a bone graft is placed between the maxillary sinuses and the jaw. The dentist or periodontist lifts the sinus membrane upward to create space for the bone graft. An onlay graft involves adding the transplanted bone directly to the recipient’s bone. The new bone slowly fuses with the underlying bone, and once healing is complete, an implant can be placed in a more favorable position.
On average, healing after a bone graft takes about three months, but recovery may vary from one patient to another.
Call Our Office for More Information
New Patients: (858) 358-5801 | Existing Patients: (858) 333-1101 Request an Appointment
What Leads to a Bone Graft?
You already know that a bone graft is a necessary fix when you have bone loss. But what causes bone loss in the first place? Here are reasons you may have bone atrophy:
- Missing tooth: Just like your muscle, if you don’t “use” your bone, you “lose” it. A missing tooth means your bone lacks stimulation to spur growth. This leads to deterioration of the jaw bone over time.
- Periodontal disease: Gum infection can “eat away” your bone, and bone grafting may be one of the ways to restore your healthy jawbone.
- Development defects: Congenital disabilities may leave you with missing teeth and a lost jawbone, which can be fixed with bone grafting.
Need bone grafting in San Diego, California, to reverse the effects of bone deterioration? Please dial (858) 358-5801 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sanjay Dhir.
