What Is a Dental Bone Graft and Why Would You Need It?

Bone grafting goes hand-in-hand with dental implants. If you have lost an adult tooth and plan on getting a dental implant, it is normal to need a bone graft.

Bone grafting is a procedure that has been around for a very long time. It has several useful medical applications, including dental bone grafting. But what is a dental bone graft, and why might you need one?

What is Bone Grafting?

A bone graft is a surgical procedure to rebuild bone through the transplantation of bone tissue. It is typically a minor procedure. Your dentist will make an incision in your gum to expose the bone of your jaw. Then graft new bone material to it. By transplanting healthy bone tissue, your dentist can recreate the missing bone and supporting tissues.

Reasons You May Need a Bone Graft

There are only a few reasons why a person would need a dental bone graft. It’s a necessary technique when a patient doesn’t have a sufficient amount of healthy natural bones in his or her mouth. If you have lost an adult tooth or had gum disease, there’s a chance you’ll need a bone graft.

When one of your adult teeth is missing, the bone in that empty area of your jaw bone begins to disappear. Having gum disease can also cause the jaw bone to recede.

Bone grafting goes hand-in-hand with dental implants. If you have lost an adult tooth and plan on getting a dental implant, it is normal to need a bone graft. It ensures that the implant will stay in place.

There are a few types of dental bone grafting. Some of these varieties include:

• Block Bone Graft – With this type, your dentist will use bone from the back of your jawbone.
• Socket Graft – This graft is done at the same time as you get a tooth extracted. It prevents bone loss generally associated with adult tooth loss. It gets your jaw ready for the dental implants you’ll have put in at another time.
• Sinus Lift – This type is used when a person has lost some of their molars on their upper row of teeth. A sinus lift will restore the sinus to normal while also repairing the gap with a graft.

Dental Sedation Bone Grafting

If you need a bone graft but are putting it off because you are afraid that it will be painful, we are here to help. Dental sedation is the best way to make sure that your implant will be a success and that you won’t have to go through any major trauma or pain in the process.

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we work hard to make you feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient setting. We believe that patients should have sufficient information to make educated decisions about their oral health and treatment options.