Pinnacle Oral Surgery Specialist knows that bone grafting is one of the lesser-known possibilities when it comes to your oral procedures. However, with us, you are perfectly safe, and there is no need to worry if you have been told that you should undergo this procedure. It is a pretty common issue to be remedied and is often a prerequisite for other procedures such as an implant process or other oral surgeries. To find out more information before your appointment, give us a call today, and we can help ease your apprehension.
What Is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is when we transplant bone from a “donor” source to a “recipient” site, which in this case is your jaw beneath your gum line. The jawbone can diminish, weaken, and thin out over time, making other dental procedures riskier or not possible at all. Bone grafting allows us to build that strength back up and proceed with restorative procedures you would not otherwise be able to go along with. There are different replacement options for the bone being placed into your jaw. The first and arguably most common is just moving bone from one section of your jaw to another.
Usually, we take from the back of your jaw and move a bit to cover whatever section is getting weak. Another option, if you have a larger scale transplant or your jaw is just not an option is taking from elsewhere on your body, usually from your tibia or hip. These have the bone-growing proteins we are looking for a successful graft. If neither of these options works for you, you can also get a graft from a cadaver, bovine or human. These are perfectly safe options that work for larger scale transplants as well. Finally, you can get a graft using a synthetic, man-made substance which bonds and fuses well with your bone, promoting the growth of more.
What Is the Process?
Getting bone grafted is a relatively simple procedure. When you come in, you will be administered an anesthetic both in the recipient site and the donor site (if you have a donor site). Then, we will make an incision in the gums exposing the bone that we need to reinforce. We will take the donated bone from whatever source and attach it to the bone that is already there. Then, we will lay a catalyst material over the area to promote bone growth and healing. Finally, we will close the area up. From this point on, it is just recovery, which can take some time.
We will walk you through the preparation process, the procedure itself, and the healing process. Pinnacle Oral Surgery Specialist will help you to feel and look better quickly, safely, and without the hassle, you may find elsewhere. To find out if you need a bone graft before an upcoming implant or surgery, give us a call today, and we can help answer that and any other questions you may have.