Missing teeth impact our lives in several significant ways. Eating and chewing food comfortably can become a challenge, while talking and smiling may feel embarrassing due to gaps in your smile.
Dental implants are the gold standard in tooth replacement because they restore both your tooth and its root. However, they do require that you have enough healthy bone structure to support the dental implant successfully. If you didn't have enough bone structure due to periodontal (gum) disease, trauma, denture wear, or other reasons, you might've been told that you weren't a good candidate for tooth implants.
That's where bone grafting comes into play, helping to make dental implants accessible to more patients. Here's what you should know.
What Is Bone Grafting?
During your bone grafting procedure, Dr. Poff uses natural or synthetic bone material to rebuild your existing jawbone structure for adequate implant support. He will add the material to your bone and allow your jawbone time to heal and integrate with it so that it becomes part of your dental anatomy. This process takes around three to six months. After healing and integration are completed, your jawbone is ready for implant placement.
Besides replacing your missing tooth, a dental implant helps keep your jawbone healthy and stimulated, thereby preventing bone deterioration.
How Painful Is Bone Grafting?
As with any surgical dental procedure, some discomfort is to be expected. However, our patients report that bone grafting discomfort is manageable and typically dissipates over the first week.
During the procedure, you will be numbed with a dental anesthetic to ensure you don't feel anything during your procedure. We also offer dental sedation with nitrous oxide, which can help "take the edge off" and make you feel at ease without leaving you with lingering side effects.
Would You Like to Learn More about Dental Implants in Bellevue?
Contact Poff Dental Associates at (615) 662-2400 for more information about tooth implants and bone grafting. We can walk you through the entire process here at our Bellevue dental office.