BONE REGENERATION

Promoting Growth in the Jaw

Bone regeneration, or a dental bone graft, is a common dental procedure that adds density and volume to the jaw where bone loss has occurred, restoring your jaw to its original form.

Bone regeneration

You may need bone regeneration surgery to:

  • Prepare for a dental implant – Creating a solid foundation for a dental implant is the most common reason for bone regeneration surgery. Before receiving a dental implant to restore missing teeth, your jaw must have sufficient space to support the implant.

  •  Prevent tooth loss – Your dentist may suggest the surgery as a measure to prevent future or further tooth loss.

  • Create space for a sinus lift surgery – Jaw bone loss can result in the sinking of the sinuses. Surgery is necessary to return the sinuses to the original position.

CAUSES OF JAW BONE LOSS

At Go Dental, our dentists have years of experience in rebuilding the jaw bone. We may need to help stimulate bone growth in your jaw for a variety of reasons, including:

Missing Teeth

Most of the time, jaw bone loss is caused by missing teeth. When teeth are extracted and there are no roots to connect to, the jaw bone begins receding.

Gum Disease

When bacteria spreads to the jaw bone as a result of gum disease, it can damage the bone.

Dental Trauma

The dislodging of a tooth due to an accident can result in bone loss.

HOW DOES BONE REGENERATION WORK?

If you have significant bone loss in your jaw, your dentist will help you decide if bone regeneration surgery is right for you. Your dentist will first meet with you to discuss your treatment plan and answer any questions you have. X-rays will most likely be taken to determine the extent of bone loss.

During the procedure, your dentist will first make sure you feel safe and comfortable. Then, your dentist will apply local anesthesia and make a small incision in the gum to reach the jawbone. Your dentist will add the bone graft material to the affected area of the jawbone. The graft material is taken from a predetermined source—from either another part of your body or from a bone bank. The incision is then closed and stitched.
Once the bone graft is placed, your own bone tissues will be able to regrow.

Bone regeneration surgery is generally not thought to be painful. Following the procedure, patients may experience some discomfort, swelling and bruising that can be managed by pain medication. Tell your dentist if you experience heavy bleeding or signs of infection.

PLACING DENTAL IMPLANTS AFTER BONE REGENERATION

Bone regeneration makes it possible for patients with bone and tooth loss to become candidates for dental implants. In most cases, patients must fully heal from the bone regeneration procedure before a dental implant can be placed. In certain cases, however, dental grafts and implants are performed at the same time. Recovery times following bone regeneration surgery vary, and your dentist will closely monitor your healing to determine when to move forward with your treatment.