Understanding Bone Grafting: Why and When You Need It

Bone grafting is a procedure that helps restore and strengthen your jawbone, often paving the way for successful dental treatments like implants. Bone grafting uses advanced techniques to add healthy bone material where it’s needed, supporting your overall oral health. At Icon Dental Center, we provide bone grafting services tailored to your needs, ensuring expert care every step of the way. Keep reading to learn how this solution rebuilds your jaw’s structure and helps you achieve better long-term results for treatments.

What Is Bone Grafting?

• Bone grafting is a surgical procedure in which bone is transplanted from one area of the body to strengthen or repair damaged bone, often in the jaw. This process not only restores the bone but also encourages new growth.

Over time, the natural bone regenerates, integrating with the grafted material to form a solid and unified structure. This strengthened jawbone creates a stable foundation for dental procedures like implants, ensuring long-lasting results.

Why Is Bone Grafting Necessary?

• Oral surgeons often recommend bone grafting to prepare for or complement other dental procedures. It ensures the jawbone is strong, providing a stable foundation for treatments like dental implants or dentures.

Here are some common reasons your dentist might suggest bone grafting:

Socket Preservation

• Fills the gap left by a missing tooth and prevents the tooth socket from collapsing.

Ridge Augmentation

Increases the width and volume of the jawbone ridge for better support.

Sinus Lift

• Prevents the sinuses from shifting downward when upper back teeth are missing.

Addressing Bone Loss

• Helps rebuild jawbone affected by periodontal disease or conditions like osteoporosis.

Bone Grafting Procedure

• Loss of one or more adult teeth and severe gum disease can cause bone loss in the jaw. Therefore, bone grafting becomes necessary. Bone grafting can be done in several ways; however, the basic procedure is the same. The dental surgeon starts by administering anesthesia to the donor and recipient site. An incision is made at the recipient site in the jaw. 

Bone material is then attached to the jaw using a dissolvable adhesive material or small titanium screws. These screws are removed before the dental implants. Once the bone graft is secured, the incision is sutured to allow the healing process to begin. Autografts are the most preferred approach for dental bone grafting. Autografts increase the bone support in the jaw and promote new bone formation.

Recovery And Aftercare

• The patient will likely leave the dental clinic with gauze packed around the incision in the mouth. 
• The patient is instructed to change the dressing in the next 24 hours. 
• The dental surgeon will prescribe antibiotics to prevent the risk of infections. 
• A prescription for pain relievers may also be given. 
• To reduce the pain and swelling, an ice pack should be applied for the first two days.
• It is advisable to consume soft and bland foods for the first few days. 
• To help prevent the blood from pooling at the incision site, sleep with your head elevated.

Restore Your Smile with Icon Dental’s Professional Care

• If you’re considering bone grafting or need a consultation to determine if it’s the right solution for you, Icon Dental Center in Everett can help. Our experienced team provides advanced dental treatments, including bone grafting, to restore your jaw’s strength and support long-lasting oral health. Whether you’re planning for dental implants or addressing bone loss, Icon Dental Center ensures personalized care tailored to your needs.

Our experienced dentists at Icon Dental Center offer the best Bone Graft Treatment. Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward a healthier, more confident smile. Call us at 206-225-2882 for Seattle and 425-337-2400 for Everett’s appointment.