Getting a bone graft is not nearly as scary as it sounds. But if you have heard these words in relation to your own dental health, you probably have a lot of questions. Why do you need the bone graft? What does the procedure entail, and why is it so important? What is grafted onto the bone? Here’s what you need to know.
Why bone grafts are needed
You need a bone graft when your jaw is not strong enough to support the dental implant. The bone has to be strong enough to hold the implant in place while the bone remodels around it for permanence. The jaw also has to be sturdy enough to withstand the powerful chewing motions when you eat.
How bone grafts are done
Worried about what is going to be grafted onto your jawbone? There really isn’t any cause for concern. The procedure is quite routine for experienced and specialized dentists and oral surgeons.
Most often a dentist will choose to take a small piece of bone from elsewhere in your jaw and graft it onto the bone where the implant needs to be seated. It will take several months for the bone graft to take hold and become fully grafted to the jaw. If you don’t have easily accessible healthy bone to graft, your dentist may want to use a special bone grafting material instead.
Is the bone graft really necessary?
Are you worried about your dentist trying to get more money out of you with unnecessary procedures? A bone graft is one of the more expensive treatments, and you certainly don’t want to undergo the procedure if you don’t have to. Contact us today for a second opinion and to get more expert advice about your bone health.
