Gingivitis 101: Recognizing the Early Signs of Gum Disease
Don’t leave something as essential as your oral health up to chance. See what the experts say about identifying and treating the early warning signs of gum disease.
When Do You Need Bone Grafting?
When your dentist tells you that you need bone grafting, it’s understandable to have many questions. But you’ll be happy to know that bone grafting is actually a routine procedure utilized in dentistry for many years.
Dr. Ryan Fait and our experienced team at Southern California General & Cosmetic Dentistry know that the first step in addressing your oral health is fully understanding each procedure. We’re here to answer all your questions about bone grafting.
Bone grafting basics
Bone grafting is an oral surgery procedure that restores, rebuilds, and repairs damaged or missing bone tissue by transplanting healthy bone tissues. There are a few types of bone grafting, and they differ depending on the type of material used.
One of the most common types of bone grafts comes from bone tissues in your own body, typically your hip bones or the back of your jaw.
Other types of bone grafts include:
- Bone from a human donor
- Bone from an animal
- Bone made of a synthetic material
Dr. Fait walks you through the advantages and disadvantages of each type and helps you decide which is best for you.
Who needs bone grafting?
If your jaw doesn’t have enough healthy bone to support dental implants, bone grafting is the first step.
There are many reasons you may have experienced bone loss, such as congenital issues, gum disease, or injury, but the most common reason is tooth loss.
When you lose a tooth, your jawbone loses bone mass over time. Not only does this gradual atrophy of bone impact your oral health, but it also makes it harder to save a tooth or replace a missing tooth with dental implants. Dr. Fait uses bone grafting to restore your jawbone and give the implants a strong foundation.
What should you expect from bone grafting?
Bone grafting is a safe outpatient procedure. Dr. Fait creates a small incision in your gum line exactly where you need the graft. He then places the grafting material and secures it in place.
You’re sedated during the entire procedure, and recovery is quick and should only cause mild, short-term discomfort.
Dr. Fait sends you home with instructions on how to care for the incision. It may take a few months, but once your bone graft is ready for an implant, Dr. Fait gets to work preparing you for the dental implant procedure.
If you’d like more information or are concerned about a missing tooth, contact our office in Long Beach, California, or request an appointment online to get started.
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