When you lose mass and density following your tooth loss, this could mean negative changes to your facial structure and overall appearance. To restore the missing structure and prepare your smile for implant placement, we may suggest a bone grafting procedure. In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa , CA, oral surgeons will discuss the grafting process.
The Loss of Mass and Density in Your Smile
How do we lose stability in our smile? Well, the body preserves your jawbone structure with regular doses of calcium and phosphorus. However, when you lose a tooth, the body stops supplying the surrounding jawbone with these nutrients. Without them, the bone tissue begins to break down due to loss in mass and density. Further tooth loss could develop, as could a prematurely aged appearance. This complication also means your smile may not be able to support a dental implant, limiting your tooth replacement options. However, we could address this with bone grafting, also known as ridge augmentation.
The Grafting Process
Basically, we will graft tissues onto the parts of your jawbone that have lost integrity. We take the tissue from other places on your body, such as the back of your jaw or your hip. We could use donor materials or a synthetic option. The graft will fuse with the jawbone, proving new structure that could support a dental implant. Once in place, the implant will stimulate the growth of jawbone tissue to prevent further loss of mass and density, and preserving your overall facial structure!
Implant Placement
Once we complete the ridge augmentation procedure, we will use digital technology to plan and guide the insertion of one or more dental implant posts. Made from biocompatible titanium, these bond with the bone tissue. We then attach a restoration for individual ones, or a bridge or denture if you have multiple missing teeth. Your new dental implants can then stay in place for decades, possibly even a lifetime. If you have missing teeth, don’t let your quality of life and oral health continue to suffer. Even if you’ve developed negative changes to your facial structure, we have procedures to rebuild your smile and help you enjoy a complete one again. If you have any questions about these procedures, or if you would like to schedule a visit, then contact our team today to set one up!
Have You Lost One or More Natural Teeth?
We want to use oral surgery and corrective procedures to boost the function and beauty of your smile. To learn more about our surgeries to improve the function, stability, and integrity of your smile, then schedule a consultation by calling Santa Rosa Oral Surgery in Santa Rosa, CA, today at 707-545-4625.
