You were ready to start your dental implant journey, but during your initial consultation your dentist mentioned you might need a bone graft first. What does this mean, and why did your dentist recommend it?
Ultimately, bone grafts are all about reinforcing your jawbone with more support so your dental implant treatment will be successful. Now, understandably, that might sound like a lot! Keep reading, and it’ll start to make more sense.
How Your Jawbone Affects Dental Implants
What does your jaw have to do with your future tooth replacement? Quite a lot, actually! Dental implants are designed to mimic the entire tooth structure, including the roots. Natural dental roots are connected and enmeshed with the jawbone, which helps keep the tooth in place and provides essential stimulation for the jawbone.
Instead of roots, a dental implant has a biocompatible post that will be surgically inserted below the gumline. Over time, your jawbone will grow around the post and fuse with it. This enables the bone to support dental implants, so without enough bone mass to cling to, dental implants fail.
Tooth Loss and Jawbone Deterioration
While there are a couple of different reasons you might have a thin jawbone, one of the more common ones is deterioration due to tooth loss. Without a dental root providing stimulation, your jawbone can’t get the nutrients it needs to maintain itself. Over time, it will start to be reabsorbed back into your body (until you’re able to supply stimulation again via dental implant posts).
Why a Bone Graft Could Help
Thanks to modern science and technology, your dentist can in fact add mass to your jawbone if needed. That’s what a bone graft treatment is for! Basically, they’ll take bone matter from a different source and “graft” it onto your jawbone. After the grafted material and your jawbone become fully integrated, you’ll have enough mass to be able to effectively hold a dental implant in place.
TLDR? A bone graft can help you become a good candidate for dental implants if you aren’t already.
If your dentist recommends a bone graft as a preliminary treatment to your dental implants, it’s worth taking a slight detour and getting the graft. Your dental implants will be much more likely to succeed, and your restoration will have the foundation it needs in order to support your smile for years to come. When all is said and done, you’ll be better off for it!
About the Author
As a highly experienced dentist, Dr. Eduart Shkurti is able to place and restore dental implants in his own office. No matter where you’re at in your dental implant journey, he and his team will be ready to help you every step of the way! If you have questions about a bone graft treatment or other aspects of the dental implant process, you can contact Dr. Shkurti’s office at 718-806-1662.