Losing a tooth can be scary and make you feel unsure about your smile and oral health. Whenever possible, our approach at Lake Baldwin Dental is to save as many of your natural teeth as possible.
But there are some situations when teeth become unsalvageable. Trauma from a fall, sports injury, or car accident, severe decay, failing dental work, gum disease, and damage from grinding your teeth at night can all make it necessary to remove teeth.
No matter what led to your current dental health issues, we’re prepared to do what it takes to give your smile the best possible future.
Bone grafts can help improve your chances of getting dental implants later to rebuild your smile. Even if you don’t plan on getting implants, a bone graft can ensure your mouth stays healthy and strong.
If you need a tooth extracted, or you’re already missing teeth, here’s everything you need to know about getting a bone graft in Orlando, FL.
What is a Bone Graft?
A dental bone graft is a special procedure where a dentist adds new bone to your jaw. This helps make your jawbone strong again, especially if you’ve lost a tooth or had an injury. The new bone can come from different sources, like your own body or from a donor. Today’s advanced dental technology even allows us to create synthetic bone grafts.
The different types of bone grafts have slightly different purposes, but in general the purpose of a dental bone graft is to increase the amount of healthy bone tissue.
Why Are Bone Grafts Necessary?
There are a few reasons why you might need a bone graft:
- Periodontal Disease: Over time, untreated gum disease can eat away at the ridge of bone that supports your teeth. This bone loss can happen in a few different ways, depending on your disease progress, but the result is compromised attachment that may allow your teeth to become loose or even fall out.In some cases, a periodontist can stabilize periodontally involved teeth by adding bone graft material around otherwise healthy tooth roots. In others, we may recommend rebuilding lost bone structure after teeth have been lost.
- Tooth Loss: Even if you don’t have gum disease, a tooth may become too damaged to save. This can happen due to cracks, injuries, severe decay, or when a tooth has had too much dental work and there isn’t enough tooth structure left.After a tooth is removed, the body no longer needs the bone socket that once surrounded the tooth root, and the bone will shrink over time. This can cause the surrounding teeth to lose bone support in some cases. If you’re missing several teeth, bone loss can cause other problems like changes to the shape of your face or strain on your jaw joints.
Whether or not you plan to get dental implants in the future, adding a bone graft to the socket after a tooth extraction is a great way to stabilize your bone structure, which can protect the surrounding teeth and buy you time to decide how you want to replace your missing tooth.
- Trauma: Injuries to your mouth can damage the jawbone itself. Car accidents, sports injuries, slip-and-fall accidents, and interpersonal violence can all cause fractures to the bones of your face and jaws.Depending on the location and severity of the break, your dentist or oral surgeon might recommend a bone graft to help the fracture heal properly and possibly save your teeth.
At Lake Baldwin Dental, you’ll always get focused, personalized care tailored to your unique needs. Dr. Dunn and Dr. Nestle will always take the time to fully explain their recommendations and help you feel confident making informed decisions about the future of your smile.
Types of Bone Grafts
There are several types of bone grafts that have slightly different purposes and applications. Here are three of the most common types.
- Socket Preservation: This type is done right after a tooth is removed. It helps keep the bone in place so it’s ready for an implant later. Socket preservation can also offset loss of healthy bone height that can affect neighboring teeth.
- Ridge Augmentation: This procedure makes the jawbone wider or taller, giving more space for implants. We typically use ridge augmentation to restore the original shape of your jawbone if you’ve lost bone volume due to periodontal disease or certain medical conditions.
- Sinus Lift: This type is done in the upper jaw to make more room for implants by gently repositioning the base of the sinus and adding bone underneath.
- Osseous Surgery: In some cases, a periodontist can reverse some of the damage from advanced gum disease by adding a bone graft directly around a compromised tooth root.
What Is Bone Grafting Surgery Like?
We understand how intimidating dental procedures can be, especially if you’re facing the possibility of losing a tooth. But knowing what to expect can help.
First, we’ll help you rest comfortably through every phase of your treatment with the right sedation dentistry option for your needs.
If you need a tooth removed, our team routinely places bone grafts immediately after tooth extractions. Meaning you won’t need a separate appointment or additional procedures.
Other types of grafts, like ridge augmentation and sinus lifts, involve accessing the bone under your gums and adding grafting material with the right properties for the specific application.
Our mission at LBD is to ensure you get the best possible care in all situations. For that reason, we work closely with a select team of expert oral surgeons and periodontists who have advanced training and specialized equipment for more involved types of bone graft surgery.
For the most part, bone graft recovery is a comfortable process. You may experience some discomfort immediately after your procedure, although this usually has more to do with the extraction or other aspects of your treatment.
Questions About Bone Graft Surgery? We’re Here for You!
Your long-term oral health is our priority in all situations. Bone grafts are a key step in keeping your mouth healthy and preparing for dental implants. They help maintain bone volume, stabilize your teeth, and preserve your smile.
Whether you’re struggling with failing teeth or you’re already missing teeth, our team at Lake Baldwin Dental is here to help you enjoy a better quality of life through lasting oral health. If you have questions about bone grafts in Baldwin Park, FL, schedule a consultation with our team! Keep smiling, Orlando!
