Bone Grafting in Lakewood Ranch, FL

You deserve to be happy with your smile.

What is a Bone Graft?

The loss of bone around the teeth, along with a general weakening of the bone structure in the jaw, leads to tooth loss. Bone grafting is done by the periodontist in order to replace lost bone tissue. The goal is to strengthen the weakened structure of the jaw while also encouraging new bone growth to start naturally. Bone grafting is a very adaptive procedure that can be very effective when it comes to oral reconstruction and maintenance for advanced periodontal disease. Bone grafting treatments can help provide enough support to install dental implants and can also prevent further tooth loss.

When is a Bone Graft Needed?

Dental implant surgery is one of the most integral aspects of periodontal treatment, allowing patients who may have lost their permanent (adult) teeth a chance to restore and rejuvenate their smile. However, in order to successfully place an oral implant, patients must have enough bone tissue to ensure a strong, secure connection between the implant and the patient’s jaw. For those individuals who may not have enough bone tissue remaining, bone augmentation is a critical step in ensuring the jaw is ready to successfully accept the implant and restore the patient’s dental structure.

Thanks to advances in modern technology, your provider will select a bone grafting technique that rebuilds bone structure safely and effectively while, if needed, creates ample space to accommodate dental implants.

Types of Bone Grafts

Major Bone Grafting

Major bone grafts are used to repair defects in the jaw which are usually caused by traumatic injuries, tumor surgery, or congenital defects. Large defects are repaired using the patient’s own bone. If the jaw has a significant amount of deterioration, areas of bone harvest will be the skull, hip or lateral knee.

Minor Bone Grafting

Minor bone grafts are used to repair implant sites where a previous extraction has taken place or severe bone deterioration has resulted from injury or gum disease. The bone is obtained from a tissue bank taken from the jaw or larger bones like the hip. To replace bone in the upper jaw, sinus bone grafts are performed. Special membranes are sometimes used to dissolve under the gum to protect the bone graft and encourage regeneration.

Ridge Expansion

Ridge expansions are performed when the ridge is reabsorbed and needs an increase in height or width. This type of bone graft is designed to restore lost bone dimension when the ridge is too thin to place an implant. With this procedure. The ridge of the jaw is expanded by mechanical means, allowing the bone graft to be placed and mature for a few months before the implant can be placed.

Types of Bone Grafts

  •     Rebuilds bone structure
  •     Creates a stable foundation for dental implants
  •     Can prevent further bone loss
  •     Safe and effective for most patients
  •     Preserves facial structure
  •     Improves candidacy for dental implants

How Long Does a Bone Graft Take?

Depending on factors, such as the location of the graft, how much bone needs to be grafted, and if there are other necessary procedures that need to be performed before the bone graft, bone grafting procedures typically take between 20 minutes-1 1/2 hours.

What to Expect During a Bone Grafting Procedure

Your surgery may be scheduled several months prior to dental implant surgery so there is enough time for the bone to heal. Thus, dental bone grafts are typically performed under local anesthesia or intravenous sedation so you can completely relax during your surgery.

Healing After a Bone Graft

Pain should subside within a few days after a bone graft, but it takes longer for the gum area and affected bone area to heal. Gums typically heal in a few weeks, but bone can take up to a few months to heal. Following your post-operative instructions from your provider will ensure you heal after your bone graft as quickly as possible.

Thanks to bone grafting, your worries about replacing lost teeth can be alleviated. This popular form of dental reconstruction is a safe and effective way to repair your smile. For more information about bone grafting near Lakewood Ranch, please call Smiles at Lakewood Ranch at 941-216-3803.

Learn more about cosmetic dentistry at Smiles at Lakewood Ranch

Bone Grafting

Damage to the jawbone can occur in areas where there are missing teeth. The jawbone can deteriorate and change the facial structure and make it unsuitable for a dental implant. Luckily, today’s technology can repair the inadequate bone in preparation for dental implants through bone grafting, restoring functionality and esthetic appearance.

Botox®

Botox® is composed of botulinum toxin, a form of a purified protein used to treat a number of cosmetic and dental issues. It is injected into the facial muscles and blocks the nerve transmission to those muscles. As a result, the dynamic motion in the skin is relaxed, allowing wrinkles to smooth and disappear. Common injection sites include the forehead, the area between the eyebrows, the corners of the eyes, and the sides of the chin.

Dermal Fillers

For our patients in the Lakewood Ranch, FL area looking to regain the youthful fullness of their face, dermal fillers are a safe and effective way to decrease the wrinkles around the mouth and eyes, plump the lips, and soften facial creases. A faster and less expensive alternative to a surgical facelift, dermal fillers have a similar effect without the recovery time. Effective and easy, this has become a popular treatment.

General Anesthesia

While the use of a local anesthetic to prevent pain is sufficient for many dental patients, sedation or general anesthesia may be appropriate to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of dental procedures. Most commonly given by means of an injection or as an inhalant, general anesthesia describes a mixture of potent drugs that are used to induce a sleep-like state. Sedation and general anesthesia are safely and effectively used for thousands of dental procedures each year. 

Local Anesthesia

Depending on the dental procedure, your dentist may determine that you only need a relatively small area to be numbed during surgery so that your visit is comfortable and pain-free. There are two kinds of numbing injections

When performing oral procedures that require numbing, dentists employ two kinds of local anesthesia, block injections, which numbs an entire region of your mouth, such as one side of your lower jaw, and infiltration injections, which numb a smaller area.

Socket Preservation

When a tooth is extracted, the procedure leaves behind a small hole where the tooth once was. This socket can be very sensitive at first, which is why your provider may recommend socket preservation to go along with your extraction.

A socket or alveolar ridge preservation procedure involves placing a bone graft into the socket, where the tooth once was. The goal of socket preservation is to improve the appearance of the remaining teeth and gums and to make the process of getting a dental implant at a later visit less complicated.

Soft Tissue Grafting

Soft tissue grafting is often necessary to combat gum recession. Periodontal disease, trauma, aging, over-brushing, and poor tooth positioning are the leading causes of gum recession, which can lead to tooth-root exposure in severe cases. Recent developments in dental technology have made soft tissue grafting more predictable and less intrusive.

Surgical Extractions

Sometimes trauma, gum disease, cracked or broken teeth, and tooth decay can be too significant, and despite our best efforts to save the tooth, extractions may be the best option. Here at Smiles at Lakewood Ranch, we will make the process as comfortable and pain-free as possible.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Oral health care providers recommend removing wisdom teeth before they become a more difficult and painful problem -- and to avoid a more complicated surgery. Whether your wisdom teeth have emerged or not, we offer a variety of sedation types to meet any need and ensure that your experience is comfortable and pain-free.

You deserve to smile big and laugh around friends and family. 

 

A Beautiful Smile Restored!

In this Smiles at Lakewood Ranch case study, our patient Rosetta explains how she had an accident and broke her front tooth. Another dentist told her some bad news and, wow, is she glad she came to the experts at Smiles at Lakewood Ranch instead!

Reach out to us today - Because you deserve a confident smile!

We believe in life-changing dentistry. Call us today at 941-216-3803 to talk about getting the smile of your dreams! You can also use the contact form to email us.

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Dental Services Available At The Smiles At Lakewood Ranch