BONE AUGMENTATION

BONE AUGMENTATION

Patients who have insufficient natural, healthy bone to support dental implants may be ideal candidates for Bone Augmentation, a bone reconstruction process. The aim is to provide a solid structure into the alveolar bone structure into which implants can be placed and secured. Augmentation is most commonly done by placing bone graft material over existing bone in your jawbone.

For dental implants to be successfully retained, your jaw must have healthy bone to support them and hold them securely to the jawbone. If you have experienced conditions such as periodontal disease, injury or trauma to your face and jaw, your bone quality may be compromised.

Bone Augmentation Step by Step

Modern bone grafting is generally a minimally invasive procedure. If the dental professional decides to perform your bone augmentation at the same time as a tooth extraction, it will help you heal faster. However, for patients who have been missing teeth for a long time, the procedure begins with a local anesthetic to numb the area and an incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the bone. The surgeon then injects bone graft material, containing collagen and proteins, into the remaining bone in the mouth, and the area is then stitched to cover the gum tissue.

As new bone grows, it replaces the completely resorbed graft material. New bone can take anywhere from a few weeks to nine months to heal before dental implants can be placed, depending on the size of the graft and the condition of the existing bone.

Care and Treatment

After the Bone Augmentation procedure, your dentist will give you oral care instructions to follow while you wait for the new bone to regenerate. It takes six to nine months to heal completely, and you may not be able to wear dentures or eat certain foods during this time. Antibiotics may be given to relieve discomfort such as infection and pain.