When considering dental implants, there are many things patients often do not think about that occur before the surgery takes place. One of those missed thoughts is if your bone is strong enough to hold the implant. Most of us do not sit around wondering about our jawbone density, but it is something that needs to be taken into consideration when thinking about dental plants. If your doctor decides your bone will not support an implant, do not worry – there are methods to fix this. Bone grafting can take place to fill in the gaps where your bone is not strong enough. A common area for this to occur is in the sinuses above the upper molars.
There are different options for bone grafting.
- Different bone types might be used in preparing the dental implant bone. Autogenous (self-produced) bone comes from the person having the surgery and might be taken from the chin, or perhaps the hips.
- Block bone grafting is the process of cutting a piece of bone from another area of the body and implanting the area requiring the strong dental implant bone. It will need to be left for around three to six months before it will ready to take the tooth implant.
- Allograft bone comes from other human donors, usually cadavers. Again, there will be a long healing period before the bone is ready to take the new tooth.
If you need to undergo bone grafting before you can receive your dental implant surgery, your doctor will guide you through the process of which you will experience. You must remember that if you need to have bone grafting done, it will add time to your implant surgery for healing. As with any kind of surgery, you should make sure that dental implant bone surgery is carried out by a fully qualified practitioner to ensure your healing goes as smoothly as possible.
If you have any questions about bone grafting or dental implants, consult with your doctor. They will be able to direct you through the process and ensure you have a good experience.