Missing teeth can cause a variety of problems, not only with your ability to chew and smile but also with your jaw bone and overall health. To remain healthy, the jaw bone needs constant stimulation from your teeth. When teeth have fallen out or been extracted and you are unable to chew, the jaw is at risk for deterioration. Fortunately, in these cases, our practice in Bellaire, TX, offers bone grafting procedures to both prevent and restore jaw bone atrophy.
Types of Bone Grafting Procedures
We offer four different types of bone grafting at our practice, and we can develop the best treatment for your needs at your consultation appointment. A number of factors will help us determine what procedure you will undergo, including the length of time your teeth have been missing, the location of the missing teeth, and the amount of bone left in the jaw. Once we have decided on your procedure, we will discuss all of the details with you. General information about each type can be found below:
Socket preservation is a preventive procedure designed to preserve the jaw bone for dental implant placement rather than restore it after it has deteriorated. The treatment is typically recommended for tooth extraction patients because it can be performed in the same procedure. Your oral surgeon can place the bone graft so that once the extraction site is healed, you can return to the office for dental implants without worrying about lacking bone support.
Sinus lift procedures, also called sinus augmentation, are generally necessary for patients needing dental implants in the upper jaw. The sinuses are located behind the cheekbones and on top of the upper teeth. They are filled with air, and the bone that separates them from the teeth is very thin, which makes placing dental implants difficult. A sinus lift supplements this bone and provides the necessary support for successful implant placement. Your oral surgeon can enter your sinuses and place the bone graft beneath the sinus membrane, which is in charge of creating and circulating mucus. Over the next several months, the graft will fuse to the sinus bone and create a thicker foundation for implant placement. When the implants are placed, you won’t have to worry about your new teeth entering the sinus cavity.
Ridge augmentation, also known as ridge expansion, is meant to create a more supportive foundation for implants by increasing the height and width of the alveolar ridges. The alveolar ridges support both the upper and lower arches of teeth, and sometimes they are too thin to support implants on their own. A ridge expansion ensures these bones provide the proper support.
Major bone grafting is not as common, and it is typically only necessary to treat cases of severe bone loss. Birth defects and facial trauma injuries are common conditions that require major bone grafting. Most of the time, your doctor can use bone from your body, such as from your hip, to perform the procedure.
Bone Grafting at Bellaire Facial, Oral & Dental Implant Surgery
If you’re interested in dental implants but are worried you don’t have enough bone support, bone grafting may be the solution for you. We encourage you to contact our office in Bellaire, TX, to schedule a consultation. Our doctors can determine the proper bone grafting procedure for your condition.
