Bone Grafting Specialist

Why do I need a bone graft?

You may need a bone graft in your jaw if it isn’t thick enough to support dental implants due to having advanced periodontal disease, missing teeth or dental trauma. With a bone graft, the Tysons Dental Design Center team can restore your jaw bone’s lost volume and create a strong foundation for successful dental implant surgery.

What can I expect during bone grafting?

The first step in the bone grafting process is for the dental team to take X-rays of your mouth to see whether bone grafting is necessary.

To begin your bone graft procedure, your dentist uses a local anesthetic to make sure the experience is painless. Once your surgery site is numb, the dentist makes a small incision in your gums to access the jaw bone. They then place synthetic bone grafting material in your jaw bone and cover it with a collagen membrane. Afterward, they stitch up your gum tissue.

Once your bone graft is complete, the healing process takes several months for the grafting material to fuse with your jaw bone. Once this finishes, your jaw bone should be strong enough for your dentist to perform dental implant surgery.

Depending on the complexity of your bone loss, it’s possible to have your bone graft done in the same visit as the placement of your implants. Your Tysons Dental Design Center practitioner explains the best course of action during your consultation.

How can I prevent bone loss?

The main cause of bone loss in your jaw is due to periodontal disease, which can range from an infection in your gums to destroying your tooth structures including your jaw bone.

By not taking care of your periodontal disease, your tooth can become loose and fall out. Afterward, the bone surrounding your tooth begins to atrophy and deteriorate because your jaw bone needs to be stimulated and preserved through the pressure of chewing. In the first year after your tooth falls out, 25% of your jaw bone density is lost. This continues to get worse over time.

If you’ve had missing teeth for a while, the experienced dental team at Tysons Dental Design Center recommend you come in to determine if you have bone loss in your jaw. Call the office today for a bone graft and implant consultation or book your appointment online.