Understanding Bone Grafting: A Comprehensive Guide for Patients

Achieving a vibrant and fully functional smile sometimes requires specialized dental interventions beyond the standard treatments offered at Urgent Dental of Denver. In our Denver, Colorado office, bone grafting stands out as a vital procedure for those with insufficient bone density. Bone grafting administered by Dr. Drew Boyd and the team replenishes your jawbone with lost bone tissue to improve your aesthetics and oral function. 

Bone grafting in a nutshell

Bone grafting is a complex oral procedure that involves transplanting healthy tissue in the area with bone loss. The procedure is common for patients with insufficient bone structure and who want to replace their teeth with an implant. 

The bone graft can be taken from another part of the body, typically from the chin, jaw, or hip, and surgically placed on the existing bone. Sometimes, the bone graft can be harvested from an animal (xenograft), a human donor (allograft), or made from synthetic materials. We’ll discuss the different bone grafts and recommend one that suits your unique needs.

How jawbone loss occurs

Teeth contribute to the stimulation of the jawbone, encouraging growth and regeneration. However, when you lose teeth, the jawbone lacks the necessary stimulation vital for regeneration. Without teeth, the alveolar bone starts resorbing, causing the bone to deteriorate, adversely affecting oral function and aesthetics. 

The other causes of jawbone loss include:

• Periodontal disease
• Dental trauma
• Congenital deformities
• Poor dental alignment
• Traditional dentures

Jawbone loss tends to be gradual, and patients often miss the early signs. However, the dentist can spot bone loss in dental X-rays and cone beam imaging. However, when you have advanced jawbone loss, the signs are obvious. The common signs of jawbone loss include facial collapse, wrinkles around the mouth, jaw pain, and looking older than your actual age. 

Treating jawbone loss with grafting: What to expect

Although the bone grafting treatment is complex, we’ll ensure you are comfortable throughout the procedure. Our team uses modern anesthetics to ensure you feel no pain. You can also talk to us about sedation dentistry for added comfort.

Once you are at ease, the dentist will make a small incision in the area where the grafting is required. Then, the harvested bone graft is stitched in the prepared area and left to heal. During healing, the bone graft integrates with the existing bone to form one biological structure. That’s it! Now, you have sufficient bone volume to place dental implants successfully.

Sometimes, the dentist usually performs a “sinus lift” or “sinus augmentation” when building up the bone in the upper jaw (maxilla). No case is too big for Dr. Boyd and the team. During sinus augmentation, we gently lift the sinus membrane and place a bone graft material into the space below the membrane.

Benefits of bone grafting

You may need a bone graft for several reasons, with the main one being to stabilize your bone to receive an implant. The other benefits include:

• Improved chewing ability
• Improved aesthetics
• Preservation of the facial structure
• Prevention of further bone loss

Need a bone graft in Denver, Colorado? Choosing a dentist specializing in this procedure is critical. 

Urgent Dental of Denver has a proven record of placing dental grafts with precision using cutting-edge technology. To get started with bone grafting, please call (720) 573-2629 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Drew Boyd.

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