A bone graft may be needed prior to placing a dental implant.

One major reason why dental implants work so well as replacements for natural teeth is that they actually become fused to the underlying bone. This system offers superior durability, and a host of other advantages. Unfortunately, when a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone often begins to disappear (resorb) as well. In that case, it may be necessary to rebuild some of the bone structure before an implant can be placed effectively.

Bone regeneration for tooth implants is a routine procedure.

When it's needed, bone grafting has become a standard practice in periodontal and oral surgery. It is often performed prior to (or, occasionally, at the same time as) placing a dental implant. The grafting procedure itself can be done in the office, using local anesthesia (numbing shots, like those used for a filling) or conscious sedation (“twilight sleep”) to relieve anxiety.

The process may use a variety of high-tech materials.

The small amount of bone grafting material you need may come from a variety of sources, including human, animal or synthetic materials. Before it is used, all grafting material is processed to make it completely safe. In addition to the grafting material itself, special “guided bone regeneration” membranes and other biologically active substances may be used to promote and enhance healing.

Bone regeneration lets your body rebuild itself.

Your body uses most bone grafting materials as a scaffold or frame, over which it is able to grow its own new bone tissue. In time, the natural process of bone regeneration replaces the graft material with new bone. As we now know, maintaining sufficient bone tissue around the teeth is a crucial part of keeping up your oral health. That's why today when a tooth is going to be extracted (removed), often a bone graft will be placed at the time of extraction to preserve as much bone as possible.

Are you considering dental implants for tooth replacement, and wondering whether you may need bone grafting? Come in and talk to us! With our up-to-date training and clinical experience, we can answer your questions, and present the treatment options that are best in your individual situation.

If you would like more information about bone grafting, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.

When your gums become inflamed, bacteria hides in pockets that trigger the gums to push away from the teeth. Once these layers or pockets have been formed, it is nearly impossible to clean them with just brushing alone. This is where scaling and root planing becomes necessary. During the scaling portion of this conventional periodontal therapy, our team will use a scaling tool to remove any plaque, bacteria, and tartar around the affected tooth and below the gumline all the way to the bottom of the infected pocket.

After the scaling is complete, we will move onto root planing. The root planing technique is used to smooth out the tooth’s root and ultimately remove the pocket caused by bacteria. When the root has been effectively smoothed, the gums can be reattached and have a greater chance of fully healing.

Some patients report mild discomfort during the procedure and increased sensitivity after the treatment is complete, but with a personalized treatment plan, we can help manage any discomfort and pain. Moving forward, practicing good oral hygiene is paramount for making sure that periodontal disease doesn’t become worse after seeking initial treatment at our office.