Bone Grafting
Overview
During the course of having your teeth, gums, and mouth examined at Tribeca Smiles in the Greater New York, NY area for various dental issues, there is a possibility that bacteria, saliva, and food particles have caused an infection. This is called periodontitis and it occurs when the infection has spread to pockets in the gums next to the teeth. This infection can destroy the bone supporting your teeth, causing them to be loose or fall out. General and cosmetic dentist Dr. Frederick Solomon and his team can set up a strategic plan to help you fight periodontitis.
A common treatment to rectify this issue is osseous surgery, which involves exposing bone under the gum to scrape/recontour it, or to complete a bone graft. Its aim is to replace the bone that may be degraded, is no longer thick enough, or is too soft to support the teeth. This is usually done to prepare your jaw for subsequent dental implant surgery to replace weakened or missing teeth.
Best Candidates
Many people don’t realize how much intense pressure is placed on their teeth when chewing food. Exerting so much pressure requires a rock-solid foundation under your teeth. Therefore, to utilize an implant where a screw is drilled into your jawbone and a replacement tooth is mounted, would be a waste of time if the bone would not ultimately support the implant. So if you are a candidate to replace a tooth, the next step is to make sure the foundation will support it. If not, a fresh section of bone will be in order first. Candidates for this surgery must also be patient with a process that is not a quick fix. Some procedures can take months to complete. Nevertheless, it’s still very popular since the procedure ultimately results in strong teeth.
What To Expect
The condition of everyone’s jawbone is different. Some are only candidates for minor grafting, which can be done the same day as the implant. Some patients have extensive damage to their jawbone, which can require months to solidify before being ready for the implant. The procedure(s) is usually performed in several stages. First, your damaged or loose tooth is pulled. Your jawbone is then prepared for the bone grafting surgery. During the grafting, a piece of bone is taken from another site on your jaw or body (sometimes the hip bone) and transplanted into your jaw. Artificial bone can also be utilized. After this heals (osseointegration), the metal post and abutment are seated solidly into the new section of bone.
Follow-up
After the abutment is placed into your strong, new section of bone, your gums must heal all over again. Fortunately, this will only take another couple of weeks rather than a couple of months. But once they do heal, it’s time to get the new tooth attached. Impressions are made of your newly healed mouth from which your new crown will be crafted. You will be given the option to choose removable or fixed artificial teeth, as well as the best color to perfectly match the surrounding teeth. Whatever you choose to proceed and however many stages are required, there will most likely be a normal amount of discomfort, including swelling/bruising of your face or gums, pain, and minor bleeding. This quickly subsides and can be managed with medication.
Plan Your Procedure
If you’re unhappy with the appearance or function of your teeth for any reason, we encourage you to contact us today and schedule a consultation.
516-518-9465