Bone Grafting
El Paso, TX
Gum disease can affect every aspect of your oral health. Once gum disease has advanced to its later stages, it will require surgical intervention. One such form of surgical treatment for gum disease is a bone graft.
If you have decided to receive restorative procedures to treat your gum disease, our team at Bruce Gopin, DDS, MS can help. Even if you have already begun to experience tooth loss, it is not too late. Our team can provide you with a new smile through the use of dental implants and other similar procedures. Before this can occur, they will restore the strength of your jawbone with the use of a bone graft.
Where Is the Bone From?
The bone from a bone graft may come from one of several sources. This will depend on the availability of the material. Our team will discuss this with you in detail during your consultation appointment before having the procedure.
One possible source of the bone fragments for your graft is from a cadaver. This type of graft is called an allograft. Another possible source for the fragments is synthetic bone. Both types of graft material have several benefits and both have high success rates.
Why Is Bone Grafting Needed?
Bone grafting is needed for several reasons and is a response to the loss of bone that occurs as a result of advanced gum disease. A lack of bone density can cause several negative health effects. This bone loss can make you more susceptible to facial injury such as fractures. It can also cause your teeth to loosen and even fall out over time.
By completing a bone graft procedure, our professionals can restore the strength of your jaw. Your jaw will more effectively hold your teeth in place. A strong, healthy jaw will prevent further tooth loss and improve your quality of life. This procedure will also help in restoring the natural shape of your face by strengthening and building up your jawbone.
In addition to protecting existing teeth, a bone graft may be needed to prepare your jaw for future restorative procedures. Dental implants are a popular and highly successful restorative surgery. However, this procedure requires that your jawbone be strong enough to receive the implant posts that hold the false teeth in place. Once you have elected to receive an implant procedure, our team will start by completing a bone graft.
The bone graft procedure can be completed in a single surgery. The recovery time is short, and you should be feeling back to normal in a few days. You may experience some minor discomfort and sensitivity during this time.
While the initial recovery process from the surgery is brief, complete fusion of the graft takes substantially longer. According to WebMD, it can take several months for the grafted material to fuse to your jawbone. It can even take up to one year in some cases. This fusion must occur before completing any restorative procedures such as implants.
Bone grafting is one of the many ways that our team at Bruce Gopin, DDS, MS can help you overcome gum disease and provide you with a healthy, functional smile. If you think that you would be a good candidate for a bone graft, you can reach us at 915-213-3455. |
