Dental bone grafting is a procedure that involves the restoration of the quality and quantity of the bone in your jaw. Patients who seek dental implants but do not have sturdy jawbones to support the implants are great candidates for the procedure. Monterey bone grafting can make it possible to have dental implants and restore your tooth function.

You can be a good candidate for a bone graft if you have insufficient jawbone and missing teeth, but you need dental implants.

Types of bone grafts

Although the most common type of bone grafts that your dentist will use comes from a sterile donor bank, other sources are available. The other types of bone grafts include:

• Autograft (from your body)
• Allograft (from a different person)
• Alloplast (from synthetic material)
• Xenograft (from a different species like cows or coral)

How to prepare for the procedure

Before the procedure, your periodontist will instruct you on what to do. Before you show up for the procedure, the following are factors to keep in mind.

• Let your doctor know about the medications you are using, like blood thinners
• Don’t eat or drink for up to 12 hours before the procedure because of anesthesia
• Arrange for someone to take you home after the procedure

What happens during the procedure?

Depending on the type of bone graft your dental implant specialist will use, they will either use local anesthesia or general anesthesia. If your specialist uses donor bone from a sterile human bone bank, they will put you under local anesthesia.

Your specialist mixes the donor bone with platelet-rich fibrin from your blood plasma to help the donor’s bone attach and heal faster. They will mix the donor bone with your blood plasma and graft it into place. This is an outpatient procedure.

Recovery

Your dentist will give directives on how to take care of the procedure site. You will need to adjust your diet and dental hygiene habits. One crucial thing to remember is to keep the area of the bone graft clean and avoid exerting pressure to avoid unnecessary pain.  

• You can use the following tips to facilitate your healing:
• Include soft foods and liquids to avoid chewing
• Brush your teeth gently and carefully
• Rinse your mouth with warm salty water
• You can use an ice pack to offer pain relief to the side of the procedure
• Use pain relievers

Risks and complications of a bone graft procedure

Although infections at the site of the procedure or graft rejection are rare, you can expect bruising, swelling, and pain. But, your specialist will give you pain relievers and antibiotics to prevent infections.

What issues can a bone graft procedure solve?

•  Provide a sturdy base for dental implants
• Jaw bone loss
• Tooth loss or gum disease

If you wish to have a dental implant procedure but have insufficient jawbone, visit Perio & Implant Center for a bone graft procedure. Experience qualified periodontists and dental implant specialists who can offer you personalized treatment and care. Call or book an appointment online and restore your tooth function and health.