When we lose a substantial number of teeth, this could mean the jawbone loses mass and density, lifting options for dental implant placement. To help rebuild the weakened portions and strengthen the jaw, our team could provide a grafting procedure. In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa , CA, oral surgeons talk about jaw ridge augmentation.
The Loss of Mass and Density
The body will take notice of a missing tooth root, and in response, suspend or divert the flow of calcium and phosphates to other parts of the body and away from the surrounding jawbone tissue. This causes the bone tissue to lose mass and density, breaking down and causing further tooth loss and in some cases, a prematurely aged appearance. This also limits tooth replacement options, as the smile may not be able to support the multiple implant posts needed to secure a full denture.
The Grafting Procedure
To rebuild and fortify jawbone structure, we may need to conduct a grafting procedure. This is done for the lower jaw, and involves taking tissue from the back of the jaw or from the hip, or from donor or synthetic sources, and apply it to the weakened portions, where it is accepted as natural structure. Once the area heals, we can move forward with the placement of dental implants. For the upper arch, we can lift the sinus floor to recover new bone tissues, and expose enough to support new teeth and allow you to enjoy a full smile again.
Placing New Tooth Roots
The dental implant posts are small, screw-like posts made from titanium. The body will see this as natural root structure, and this stimulates the growth of jawbone tissue. The new tissue added to the lower jaw and the new tissues exposed by a sinus lift then remain strong and don’t break down with time, so your new teeth could last for decades to come, or possibly an entire lifetime. We can place traditional implants to support a full denture, or use options like All-Ono-Four or TreFoil to support new smiles with smaller and more economical posts. In the same visit, we can often attach the prosthetic, so you leave with a full smile.
If you have any questions about how we rebuild your smile and address your tooth loss, then please contact our team today. We believe that everyone benefits from a full and beautiful smile, and we want to make that happen with advanced oral surgery treatments and missing tooth replacement.
Ready to Rebuild Your Smile?
We want to make sure your smile is strong and ready to receive dental implants. If you would like to learn more about rebuilding the weakened portions of your smile, then contact your Santa Rosa, CA, oral surgeons by calling 707-545-4625.
