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.
Frequently Asked Questions
To receive a dental implant to replace one or more missing teeth, the implant's artificial root is surgically placed in your jawbone for strength and stability. However, many people lack enough quality bone material to support an implant without seeking a bone graft. At Pacific Coast Dental, we are proud to provide this procedure in the same location as your dental implant.
For numerous reasons, an estimated 50 percent of dental implant candidates will require bone grafting. This breakdown in your natural bone tissue may be due to:
- Age-related bone degeneration
- Advanced periodontal disease
- Facial injury or trauma
- Lack of bone due to missing teeth
How Long Does a Bone Graft Take to Heal?
Your healing period after a bone grafting procedure will vary depending on the type of graft and your overall health. For the smaller socket reconstruction graft, you should be done healing within three to six months. But for a more extensive graft on your bony ridge, your recovery period is significantly longer, extending up to nine months.
This period is vital if you want your dental implant to become a permanent addition to your smile. But once your implant is in place, your jawbone should benefit from the regenerative qualities stimulated by the pressure from chewing.
Meet Our Doctors:
Dr. John Acosta
Owner/Dentist
Dr. John Acosta has been in the dental profession since 2001 and loves his job. It shows in his quality of work and his caring attitude toward each patient, treating ...
Dr. Soo Youn Si
Dentist
Dr. Soo Youn Si graduated from the University of Minnesota and served as a National Health Service Corps scholar through the US Department of Health and Human Services. In this ...
Dr. Katherine Kieu
Orthodontist
Dr. Katherine Kieu earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from UCLA. She then attended UCSF, receiving her DDS and completing her orthodontic residency at the University of Pacific, ...