In some cases, a bone graft is necessary to place a dental implant. There is a minimum amount of bone needed in order to secure an implant in place. If you don’t have enough bone, you can still get the implant after a bone graft. Here is what you should know about bone grafting.
What is a Bone Graft?
A bone graft is a procedure to take a piece of bone from one part of the body and move it to another part. Doctors, surgeons, and dentists use this practice to heal and reinforce weak or broken bones. In this case, your dental surgeon will take a piece of bone from another part of your body (your femur for example), and place it in your jaw below the space for your new tooth. Once it heals, you’ll have a thicker bone for the implant to hold on to.
There is a growing trend of using artificial bone for bone grafts. They are available to your dental surgeon on the open market and it can be an effective way of reducing your healing time. The artificial bone is used in the same way as a regular bone graft, except, you don’t need to remove a piece of bone from another part of your body. For people that need a less invasive surgery method, this can help reduce the burden on your body.
Why you Need a Bone Graft?
You may need a bone graft to have a dental implant placed because there is not enough bone where the implant will go. Because it is attached directly to the bone, the implant needs a certain amount of bone to be secure and stable. Your dental surgeon can help by grafting bone into the area. This is a simple procedure that dental surgeons do often.
How Long Does Bone Grafting Take?
The bone grafting procedure can be done in a single surgery. You will need anesthesia, so the surgeon will make sure that it all gets done quickly. However, it can take up to six months to fully heal. Everyone heals at a different rate, so some people recover faster than others. It is important to make sure that the graft is healed and successful before continuing. If anything is wrong, the implant will not last as long as it should.
Once you have fully healed from the bone graft, your dental surgeon can prepare to place the implant. This is also often done in one surgery. Overall, the process of getting a dental implant can take up to a year based on healing time.
Ready to Get Started?
At Artistic Family Dentistry of Silver Spring, we have the skills and expertise to help you restore your smile. Bone grafts and dental implants are a great way to do it, but you need the help of skilled dentists and dental surgeons. If you need some work done, call 240-641-5828. You can also make an appointment by emailing us here. We can help you get the smile and dental health that makes you happy.