Learn all about dental bone graft surgery from top dentists in Everett and Seattle

Dental bone graft surgery or Bone grafting is a surgical method that substitutes a missing or damaged bone. A transplanted bone is used for repairing the bone that has been damaged due to disease. Bone grafting is used for healing bone damage anywhere inside the body. It has been successfully used for replacing lost bone inside the mouth for securing dental implants. 

Bone grafting is usually done in lieu of dental implants. This is due to the fact that dental implants require bone structure to hold on to. In some cases, loss of tooth results in the gradual loss of bone inside the mouth. Dental implants cannot be secured unless there is enough bone structure to hold on to. 

Bone grafting is a simple and painless procedure. Let us take a look at how it is performed.

Bone Grafting – Procedure

• Conventionally, dental bone grafting was carried out by removing one piece of bone from the patient’s body and placing it into the jawbone from where the bone was initially missing.  This is a somewhat painful and gruesome way of carrying out bone grafting surgery. To avoid the pain and the hassle of dual surgeries, dentists now procure the bone of an animal to graft the missing bone. 

Once the bone has been grafted, it grows in a couple of months to the extent that it is able to sustain a dental implant. Once the bone has set in and the site of surgery has healed, the implant process is initiated. The titanium dental implant post is then inserted into the jawbone. 

• The jaw requires several months to heal completely. Once it has healed, the process of inserting a dental implant into the jaw begins. After that, impressions for teeth and jawbone are taken. The custom-made dental implants are inserted once they have been prepared.  

Who Requires Bone Graft?

Dental bone grafts are needed by people who may have lost their teeth and require dental implants as a substitute for missing teeth. If an implant surgery is carried out immediately after the tooth has been lost, then bone grafting is not required. The reason being that enough jawbone is present to support a dental implant.

However, if dental implants are not carried out immediately then the jaw loses some bone every day. In such cases, bone grafting becomes necessary for dental implants to be secured.

What to Expect After a Bone Grafting Procedure?

• Bone grafting is a minor surgery that is carried out in a short time by an expert dentist. However, the healing process is quite lengthy. The grafted bone takes a couple of months to merge with the natural bones already present in your mouth. 

The dentist prescribes antibiotics and painkillers after the surgery has been performed. Antibiotics are necessary to prevent reinfection. Contrary to other invasive dental procedures, dental bone grafting is quite painless. Nevertheless, painkillers are advised as a precaution. 

• Bone grafting requires a very small incision to be made inside the mouth. This is why some patients may experience slight discomfort such as swelling of gum or skin, a little bleeding, and bruising inside the mouth. These conditions subside quickly. 

Dentists recommend patients consume soft foods for a few days post the bone graft surgery. Regular dental checkups are required for the dentist to determine whether the bone graft is ready for dental implants or not. 

If you are residing in Seattle or Everett, visit Icon Dental Center. Their team of experts knows how to carry out bone graft surgery with minimum pain and hassle.