08
Apr
5 Commonly Asked Questions About Bone Grafting
Tooth loss can lead to jawbone degradation, affecting your smile and jaw function. Urgent Dental of Denver provides advanced bone grafting techniques to patients in and around Denver, Colorado. Expertly administered by Dr. Drew Boyd, bone grafting restores density and stabilizes the alveolar ridge for dental implants.
1. What is bone grafting
It’s a surgical procedure that involves using a small piece of bone from your own body or other sources and placing it in the area with bone loss. Bone grafting is needed when the natural bone isn’t sufficient to support an implant or other dental procedures.
Think of dental grafting as reinforcing the foundation of a house. Just as a house needs a strong, stable base, your teeth rely on a healthy jawbone for stability. When bone loss occurs due to tooth loss or gum disease, it’s like a foundation weakening over time. Bone grafting rebuilds and strengthens this foundation. This ensures that your teeth and dental restorations have the support they need to stay strong and functional.
2. Where does my dental graft come from?
Dental grafts can come from several sources. The doctor can harvest the graft from your body (autografts), particularly from the hip or chin. Autografts have the patient’s own cells, which minimizes the risk of rejection. However, the need to “nurse” a second surgical site can be unappealing for some people.
Alternatively, your dental graft can come from a donor, a cadaver, or an animal. These grafts are carefully scrutinized to maximize safety. External grafts eliminate the need for a second surgery, but the body generally needs more time to “take” in these types of grafts. Lastly, the dentist can use synthetic materials as a source of bone grafts. Synthetic materials are processed from biocompatible materials containing growth factors, collagen, and proteins. The dentist will discuss the pros and cons of each grafting material and recommend one that suits your needs.
3. What can I expect from the procedure?
Careful planning ensures the procedure is quick and comfortable. It’s often done under local anesthesia, but other comfort techniques are available on request. The doctor incises the gums to expose the underlying bone. Then, the bone graft is carefully positioned in the area needed and stitched to kick-start healing.
The bone graft needs a few months to heal. During healing, the bone and graft fuse to create an unbreakable bond. This stabilizes your jawbone for implantation and other procedures.
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4. How long does a dental graft last?
Ideally, your dental graft should last a lifetime with proper care. However, factors like oral hygiene, overall health, and smoking can affect its longevity.
5. Why do I need a bone graft after extraction?
We perform gentle dental extractions to ensure maximum preservation of the bone socket. However, when a tooth is removed, the surrounding bone begins to shrink due to a lack of stimulation from the root. A bone graft fills the empty socket and prepares the site for a future dental implant.
Strengthen the foundation of your smile!
Don’t let bone loss limit the possibilities of your smile. Rebuild your jawbone with advanced bone grafting techniques in Denver, Colorado. Call (720) 573-2629 and schedule your consultation with Urgent Dental of Denver. You’ll be pleased at how this preparatory step opens doors for procedures you thought were impossible.
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Dr. Drew Boyd
Dr. Drew Boyd’s compassionate spirit and gentle, calm demeanor enable many patients, especially those
with dental fear, to easily access high-quality oral health care.
He studied at the University of
Michigan and the University
of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. He has
specialized experience in emergency dentistry, having practiced it for most of his career. The fact that
he is available for patients at all times, even when virtually no other dental services are open, is
much appreciated by patients.
Incorporating cutting-edge dental techniques and philosophies and up-to-date technology allows Dr. Boyd
to deliver urgent, general, and cosmetic dental services. He strives to provide a unique, personalized
experience to patients where they are respected, valued, and feel their concerns are heard. Patients
trust him as he provides them with a safe and comfortable environment and involves them when planning
treatments.