Did your Ridley Park dentist mention you may need a bone graft? Then you probably have a lot of questions about this procedure.
Bone grafts are commonly recommended for patients with missing teeth who want to get a dental implant. Over time, the missing tooth actually leads to bone mass loss as that portion of the jaw is not properly stimulated during chewing and talking.
In order to get a dental implant, you need enough jawbone mass for the metal root to remain properly fixed.
Bone grafting is a great solution to this problem. Here is everything you need to know about bone grafts.
A bone graft procedure involves taking a small piece of bone from another area of your body (or in some cases from a donor) and applying it to the affected jaw area. After your dentist sticks to the site, the process of healing begins.
Essentially, the cells from the jawbone and new piece of bone begin to slowly fuse, therefore restoring the full mass of the jaw.
This then allows plenty of space for the metal post of the dental implant to be inserted.
Unfortunately, recovery after bone graft surgery can take around 6 months, possibly even more. Each patient’s healing is different and can depend on a lot of factors:
You won’t feel discomfort throughout the entire healing process. Any symptoms you may experience (such as pain or tenderness) will usually go away after just a few days.
Learning that you need a bone graft procedure can be frustrating since it essentially delays your dental implant surgery even more. However, the metal post cannot be implanted until the jawbone fully heals, so it’s important to trust the process.
There are some things patients can do to support healing, such as:
While these tips will not speed up recovery, they can help reduce the risk of complications, such as post-op infections. This will help your healing stay on track and allow you to move on to the dental implant procedure.
If you are dealing with missing teeth and are interested in dental implants, Dr. Julia Winter is here to help. During your consultation, you can find out whether dental implants are right for you or what other course of action you can take to restore the health and look of your smile.
To get started, book an appointment at Kite & Key Dentistry.
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