It’s easy to understand that bones in the body weaken with age, especially due to osteoporosis, but it’s not as widely known that the bones within the mouth are also at risk of losing their strength and function. If you have lost some of your natural teeth and want to use implants to build a new permanent smile, you need to have enough healthy bone left in your mouth to support those implants. If you don’t, bone grafting offers a way to solve that problem and regain the support structures needed to rehabilitate your mouth and smile.
What Is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is a surgical process that involves transplanting bone tissue in order to repair damaged bones or even replace absent bones. The bone tissue utilized in grafting can be taken from another area of your body, like the hips or ribs, or developed from advanced synthetic materials. During surgery, you are placed under general anesthesia while your surgeon shapes the donated bone to fit the area being treated. Tools like pins, screws, and cables can be used to hold the graft in place as it fuses with other tissue in the area.
Are There Alternatives to Bone Grafting?
There are a few less-invasive methods that your prosthodontist may attempt before completing a full bone grafting in your mouth. Dental Implant Solutionz in Largo, Florida, for example, offers injections of growth factors and bone proteins that can trigger natural regrowth of the bone tissue. This minimally-invasive, safe, and quick treatment option makes it possible to stimulate bone growth without any surgical discomfort or recovery time. After a few months have passed and the bone tissue has become stronger, dental implants can be placed.
Dr. Tadros and his team at Dental Implant Solutionz specialize in full mouth reconstruction, so there is no implant case that’s too difficult or challenging for them to handle. If you’re tired of living with the pain and embarrassment of a broken and incomplete set of teeth, call (727) 202-4926 today to schedule your first appointment.
