Bone Grafting
For many people interested in replacing lost teeth with dental implants, their hopes may be crushed. Inadequate bone mass is one of the primary reasons dentists deny their patients a dental implant. But the good news is that if you make Pacific Coast Dental your implant dentist in Pacifica, we can restore your candidacy by bulking up your jawbone with a bone graft.
This surgical procedure replaces missing bone with tissue from another part of your body or a donor. Applying this material to a diminished bone provides a scaffolding that your body may use to grow fresh tissue and thereby regenerate.
How Many People Require Bone Grafting for Dental Implants?
The loss of bone density can be related to age, general health, and the absence of natural teeth. In other words, when you’ve lost teeth, their lack of presence may cause your bone to break down slowly because of the lack of stimulation healthy teeth provide. Emerging research suggests that almost half of all people seeking dental implants will require some bone grafting.
If you don’t seek to replace your missing teeth, you may experience a form of atrophy in your jawbone, resulting in poor bone quality and mass. This makes it difficult for Dr. Acosta to place your artificial tooth root with confidence.
How Bone Grafts Work in Pacifica, CA
A bone graft works to grow bone tissue so that your jawbone becomes thicker so it can support dental implants properly. Dr. Acosta will start by examining your mouth and jaw thoroughly, using digital imagery to evaluate your bone mass. This will help him decide how to approach reinforcing your bone.
One common bone graft builds up your tooth socket, also called your alveolar bone. This part of your mouth is most often damaged by tooth decay and periodontal disease that caused your original tooth loss. This repair also corrects any socket damage if the lost tooth was extracted, filling in lost bone tissue.
Another form of bone graft addresses loss in the bony ridge along your lower jaw. This is a more substantial procedure than a socket repair and may take two to three times longer to heal.
Learn More about Bone Grafting at Pacific Coast Dental
If you’ve wanted a dental implant but are worried your jaw may not be healthy enough to support it, then you’d benefit by exploring how a bone graft can build up and make your jaw substantial sufficient to accommodate the implant’s artificial root.
We are excited to offer this option to our friends and neighbors in Pacifica and Montera, Coastside, El Granada, Moss Beach, Half Moon Bay, Daly City, and Sandville, CA.
