Years of untreated tooth loss can trigger jawbone atrophy. Because a successful dental implant treatment requires strong, healthy bones, many patients with missing teeth cannot qualify for implants. To boost your candidacy and enhance your chances for success, Dr. John Rink works with a team of specialists in the field of bone grafting, referring his patients to the most qualified experts in the field for bone grafting procedures at his practice in Charleston, SC. Depending on whether the upper or lower jaw needs treatment, patients may need either a traditional grafting surgery or a sinus lift.
Understanding Bone Grafting
The goal of bone grafting is to use harvested or synthetic bone tissue to reinforce the upper or lower jawbone. When a patient is missing teeth but suffering from jawbone atrophy, bone grafting is the most commonly recommended treatment. The goal of the procedure is to use harvested or synthetic bone tissue to reinforce the upper or lower jawbone. Over the course of several months, this will ideally trigger new bone growth and provide a stronger area of support for dental implants.
Depending on the severity of bone loss and the technique used, a surgeon may need to perform more than a single bone grafting procedure for optimal results. The surgery itself is usually performed several months in advance of implant placement. To begin the surgery, an anesthetic will be administered to numb your gums and keep you comfortable. The doctor will then make an incision into the gums to create the space necessary to place bone grafting material. Once the grafting material is in place, the incision is sutured closed.
