Bone Grafting for Deterioration
Losing one or more teeth can affect both the appearance and function of your smile. Missing teeth may leave some patients feeling self-conscious and can make it more difficult to chew certain foods or speak comfortably. Tooth loss can also contribute to changes in the surrounding teeth, gums, and jawbone, making it important to consider options for restoring your smile and maintaining your oral health.
When a tooth is lost, the jawbone in that area no longer receives the same stimulation it once received from the tooth root. Over time, this can cause the bone to gradually lose volume and density. If enough bone has been lost, there may not be sufficient support to place a dental implant without additional treatment.
In these situations, bone grafting may be recommended to rebuild or preserve bone in the area where an implant will be placed. By strengthening and adding volume to the jawbone, a bone graft can help create a more stable foundation for a future dental implant. Whether bone grafting is necessary will depend on the location and extent of bone loss, as well as your individual oral health and treatment needs.
If you are missing one or more teeth and are considering dental implants, concerns about bone loss do not necessarily mean that implants are no longer an option. As a Greenville native and fourth-generation dentist, Dr. Preston Hamrick takes the time to evaluate each patient’s needs, discuss their treatment goals, and determine which options may be appropriate for restoring their smile.
Read on to learn more about bone grafting, or call Heritage Dentistry today at 864.292.5125 to schedule a consultation or learn more about our services, including tooth extractions and root canal therapy.
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Bone Grafting Procedure
When considering bone grafting, it is important to understand that the process of getting a bone graft and getting a dental implant(s) is just that: a process, one that will require multiple appointments stretched out over several months, or even up to one year.
This process begins with an initial consultation with our dentist, Dr. Hamrick, who will conduct a thorough oral examination to determine whether bone grafting is necessary, which will include taking X-rays and images of your mouth that will also be used to create your personalized dental implant treatment plan and timeline. At your next appointment, Dr. Hamrick will clean your mouth, then numb the area to reduce or eliminate discomfort. Dental sedation will also be available to ensure you remain comfortable throughout the procedure. Next, Dr. Hamrick will make a small incision in your gums and place the graft in the socket. Patients who are providing grafting material from their body will need to plan on an additional appointment for the graft to be collected. Once the graft has healed, a follow-up appointment can be scheduled for placement of your dental implant and finally placement of the permanent crown.
Benefits of Bone Grafting and Dental Implants
Bone grafting in order to have a dental implant(s) is a popular option for individuals who are missing a tooth or teeth. There are several reasons why bone grafting and dental implants are so popular, which include the following:
- Provides the same type of stability and support as a natural tooth/tooth
- Anchored directly to your jawbone, just like natural teeth
- Long-lasting solution provided proper self-care is taken
- Restored ability to eat all kinds of food
- Improved ability to enunciate and speak without impedance
- Stimulates your jawbone like your natural tooth would, which prevents loss of jawbone
- Will not shift like traditional dentures
- Maintains the strength and shape of your jaw
- Adjustments are not necessary, which will save you time and money
- Alleviates stresses to the jaw that cause pain and/or limited mobility
- Restores the natural look and feel of your full smile
Healing Process and Maintenance
The healing process following placement of a bone graft procedure generally takes 1-2 weeks. It is common to experience mild bleeding, swelling, and bruising. Swelling and discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter medicine or prescribed painkillers and ice therapy, placing the ice on the area for 10-minute intervals. To help ensure a fast recovery time and avoid complications, be very gentle when cleaning around the treatment area and follow a soft food diet for at least two weeks. If you follow these aftercare instructions, you will reduce your risk of your bone graft failing and enjoy a faster healing process.
Once you have completed the healing process and following placement of your permanent restoration, you will not need to modify your oral health care routine. So long as you brush and floss your teeth twice daily, eat a healthy diet, and lead a generally healthy lifestyle, your implants will last you for many years to come. We also encourage our clients to schedule regular dental cleanings at least every six months to ensure the health and sustained brightness of your smile. In addition to giving your teeth a professional cleaning, these visits are also an opportunity for Dr. Preston Hamrick to evaluate your overall oral health, as he looks for any indications of gum disease or any other underlying issue that may require treatment.
Cost of Bone Grafting
The total cost of treatment will depend primarily on the type of grafting material used and the number of appointments necessary. For patients with dental insurance, the total cost of bone grafting will depend on whether the procedure is covered under your plan and, if so, how much is covered. Our staff is happy to review your coverage to determine whether your plan does cover the procedure and ensure you maximize your benefits and have minimal out-of-pocket expenses.
If you are a patient at our practice and do not have dental insurance, consider joining our membership club. Because we value your loyalty, we have launched this club to help save you money on treatment and simplify payments for preventative care. We offer three levels of membership: child, adult, and perio membership. Professional dental cleanings, doctor exams, necessary X-rays, and a 5% discount on all other treatment (some exclusions apply) are included in all membership packages.
You can sign up today and start saving money on treatment online or call us at (864) 292-5125.
For your convenience, we accept all forms of credit and debit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
Fall in Love with Your Smile Again
At Heritage Dentistry in Greenville, South Carolina, we are committed to providing exceptional, relationship-based dental care centered around each patient’s individual needs and goals. With a comprehensive range of restorative and implant dentistry options, our team can help you explore solutions designed to support your oral health and restore the function and appearance of your smile.
To schedule a consultation and determine whether you may be a candidate for bone grafting, contact our Greenville dental team today at (684) 292-5125. We can also help you learn more about your tooth replacement options, including dental implants, dentures, and All-on-4 dental implants.
Learn More About Our Services
- All on 4 Dental Implants
- Bone Grafting
- Children's Dentistry
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Dental Bonding
- Dental Bridge
- Dental Cleanings
- Dental Crowns
- Dental Exams
- Dental Fillings
- Dental Implants
- Dentist
- Dentures
- Family Dentistry
- Full Mouth Dental Implants
- Gum Contouring
- Gum Grafting
- Implant Supported Dentures
- Invisalign
- Periodontal Therapy
- Porcelain Veneers
- Root Canals
- Scale and Root Planing
- Sedation Dentistry
- Teeth Whitening
- Tooth Extractions