Dental Implant & Oral Surgery
What is a bone graft procedure? What are the benefits?
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What is a bone graft procedure? What are the benefits?

In the field of restorative dentistry, bone graft procedures are relatively common. Patients anticipating a dental implant procedure may be recommended this treatment to ensure the success of their implants. There are many benefits to this procedure.

What is a Bone Graft?

Bone grafting is a procedure in which material is added to build up the jawbone. It can be used to repair severe fractures that aren’t healing right, or to help fuse vertebrae, correct deformities, or provide structural support to spinal fractures.  In dentistry, bone grafts are often necessary for dental implant patients. Bone grafts can fill sockets left after tooth extraction. They can also build up the entire alveolar bone, through a ridge modification.

To perform this procedure, a dental professional must first properly anesthetize the area, so their patient remains comfortable. Usually, dentists choose general anesthesia.  A socket graft is a localized addition of new bone material, to fill in the space left by a missing tooth. If these spaces are not filled, they will shrink even smaller and cause further complications. The synthetic bone material is placed into the cavities and sealed. Eventually, these will heal into strong new bone.

A ridge modification is a large-scale bone graft of the alveolar bone. A dentist will place new bone, either synthetic or sourced from the body, on the alveolar bone. Eventually, this material is integrated into the body.

Benefits of Bone Grafts

Without tooth roots to stimulate the alveolar bone, the process of bone resorption is accelerated. Bone deterioration is the process by which the body reabsorbs the calcium in bone, causing the bone to shrink in mass. Advanced bone resorption will distort the face and further complicate chewing and speaking. Dental implant posts are designed to combat this buy acting act artificial tooth roots, and keep the jaw bone stimulated and full. But without proper bone mass, the jaw cannot support a dental implant.

Bone grafts allow patients with missing teeth to have the full, healthy smile of their youth. Even people with advanced bone loss can often, repair their smiles with a bone graft.

If you or a loved one are in need of bone graft surgery, consider the competent specialists at Lorton Springfield Dental Implant and Oral Surgery. Our staff is gentle, kind, and experienced. Choose the specialists in our practice to help ensure the success of your bone graft and dental implant surgery.

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