If you have never had to get a bone graft before, you are probably thinking that it entails the removal of bone mass from one part of your body to be implanted into another body part that needs it. While this was the traditional way that bone grafts were done, new-age procedures utilise composite materials for the same purpose of stimulating the growth of bone where needed. While bone grafts are usually associated with major surgeries, you should know some dental issues and treatments that would require a bone graft. This may sound alarming to some people, but in truth, it is commonplace for a dentist to resort to this procedure. To demystify the reasons why this would be imperative, here are instances when your dentist will prescribe a bone graft for your oral health.
Bone graft post gum disease
Gum disease can wreak havoc to your oral health. And when it is left unchecked to eventually progress into periodontitis, not only will your gums be affected, but so will your teeth and jawbone. If you seek treatment when the gum disease has progressed considerably, it is highly likely that your jawbone has degraded, too. Thus, even if your dentist carries out a restorative treatment for your teeth, the tooth will not survive on a damaged jawbone. The best course of action will be to have a bone graft performed on your jawbone beforehand and then to undergo restorative dental treatment once bone growth has been triggered.
Bone graft before dental implants
Dental implants are undeniably the best way to replace lost teeth. Nevertheless, not everybody's jaw is strong enough to accommodate the screwing in of the steel rod that functions as an anchor to the prosthetic tooth. If you do not want to settle for dentures or a dental bridge, your dentist will prescribe a bone graft to strengthen your jawbone. The higher the bone density, the better the reinforcement that the implant will receive.
Bone graft post tooth removal
There are some scenarios where you would have to have a tooth extracted and potentially not have a prosthetic implanted. For instance, if your wisdom teeth are causing you debilitating pain, it is best to have them extracted. However, this procedure is not followed by the implantation of new teeth. In this scenario, your dentist may perform a bone graft to guard against the loss of jawbone density. Some people may experience a loss in bone density since the root of the extracted tooth is not stimulating the growth of bone. In severe cases, the lack of bone density could cause issues with chewing, facial disfiguration and so on. A bone graft prevents negative repercussions following the loss of bone density after tooth removal.
To learn more, contact a dentist.
