Bone Grafting in Charlotte, NC
If you’ve had a tooth extracted or you have missing teeth, you may have experienced bone degradation in your upper or lower jaw. This can make it difficult or impossible to get dental implants or be fitted for dentures, and it may make you more prone to periodontal disease. Fortunately, there is a surgical procedure that can replace the lost bone in your jaw with new bone growth.
Park Crossing Dentistry is pleased to offer bone grafting procedures to our patients. If you are in the Charlotte, NC, area and you’re missing teeth, have recently had a tooth extraction, or are considering dental implants, contact our office. We will evaluate your candidacy for dental implants and determine whether or not a bone graft procedure is in your best interest.
What Is Bone Grafting?
In a bone grafting procedure, a surgeon uses bone from a different part of your body, donated bone, or synthetic bone grafting material and applies it to an area with bone loss. While doctors have been performing bone graft procedures for decades, its application to dentistry is more recent.
A dental bone graft involves a dentist or oral surgeon securing bone or synthetic bone grafting material to an empty tooth socket. Once the bone is secure, the body begins regenerating its own bone. In that sense, the grafted bone acts as a frame.
Types of Bone Grafting Procedures
There are several types of bone graft procedures. Whether you need a bone graft to prepare your jaw for dental implant surgery, to improve the density of your jaw, to be fitted for dentures, or for some other reason, you want to know that your bone graft procedure is being performed by an experienced professional. Contact Park Crossing Dentistry today.
Socket preservation
The dentist places the bone tissue in the extraction site immediately after tooth extraction. This helps to prevent the socket from collapsing.
Ridge Augmentation
If you’ve had missing teeth for a while, it’s common for the jawbone to become thinner and weaker. Ridge augmentation increases the width and density of the bone, creating a strong jawbone.
Sinus lifts
If your back upper teeth are missing, your sinuses, which sit directly above them, can begin to descend into the gum line. Dental implant placement in this area would be dangerous, so the dentist lifts the sinuses and grafts a bone directly beneath it to act as a support platform.
Periodontal bone graft
This addresses the effects of periodontal disease, which can erode the teeth below the gumline. This type of bone grafting adds new bone around existing teeth.
Benefits of Bone Grafting Procedures
If you are trying to achieve the perfect smile, bone grafting may be necessary. It stops bone loss, can give you a stronger lower jaw and chin, and makes dental implants a possibility. Because this surgery has been performed on millions of patients, it has predictable results. If you have concerns about dental bone grafting, contact our office in Charlottesville, NC. We will schedule you to speak to a doctor.
Bone Grafting Frequently Asked Questions
While dental bone grafting is a minor surgical procedure, we do recognize that it can be intimidating — especially if this is your first experience with oral surgery. We highly recommend speaking with a dentist in our office to assuage your concerns. In the meantime, here are some of the most common questions we hear at our Charlotte dentist’s office.
Do I have to go under for bone grafting?
We can perform bone graft oral surgery using a local anesthetic.
Do I need a bone graft?
Until you’ve been seen by a dentist, it won’t be possible to know. However, here are some of the reasons why you might need bone graft surgery:
- You’ve recently lost a tooth
- You’re considering a future dental implant
- You’ve been missing one or more teeth for a period of time
- You’re prone to gum infection due to a missing tooth or loose gums
- It’s part of a periodontal disease treatment
- You have a diminished jawbone
- You have a bone defect near your tooth or jaw
- You experience sinus discomfort
What are the downsides of bone grafts?
While it is a fairly routine surgery with a high success rate, there is a risk of infection after surgery. Additionally, some patients are not good candidates for bone grafting or implants for that matter. If this is the case, your dentist may recommend an alternative treatment or procedure.
How will the dentist decide whether or not I should have a bone graft?
If your dentist is extracting a tooth, they may recommend an immediate grafting after the extraction is complete. For patients with teeth missing, it may be a prerequisite for a future dental implant or a partial denture.
Where does the bone come from?
If the dentist uses your own bone, it often comes from the back of the jawline, near where the wisdom teeth are located. Otherwise, it can be purchased from a tissue bank. The types of bone or synthetic bone that the dentist uses depend on the type of grafting they wish to complete.
Oral Bone Grafting and Implants in Charlotte, NC
Whether you’re trying to address an oral health issue or you need to prepare your tooth socket for implants, choosing the right dentist for the procedure is critical. Park Crossing Dentistry has extensive experience with oral bone grafting. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and X-rays.