When Would I Need a Bone Graft?

Your body relies on your bones for support and structure. But there might be some bones you don’t think about much: your upper and lower jawbones. Even though they may not support your entire body like, say, your spine does, they do provide a critical foundation for your teeth. Plus, jawbone loss can even change your appearance. 

Fortunately, if you’re in a situation where your jawbone has deteriorated, you can reverse it with a bone graft. Here at Family Dental Care in West Palm Beach, Florida, Dr. Sujay Trivedi, Dr. Michael C. Westcott, and our team offer bone graft treatments to restore your jaw.  

When should you consider this option? Let’s take a closer look.

Jawbone graft applications

While there are specialized cases in which you might need a jawbone graft, most people get them for one of these two reasons:

Preparation for a dental implant

If you had a tooth knocked out accidentally or extracted because of decay or damage, you likely want to fill the gap in your smile. You have options here, including dentures and bridges, but if you want a permanent option, you should explore a dental implant. 

These replacement teeth get rooted to your jawbone via a titanium post (artificial root). For them to work, though, you need a stable, healthy jaw. If your jawbone isn’t up to the task right now, Dr. Westcott and Dr. Trivedi can use a bone graft. This way, once your body completes the healing work around the graft, you should be able to receive a dental implant. 

Jawbone restoration after gum disease

Serious gum disease can erode the bone tissue in your jaw. Left unchecked, that can contribute to tooth loss. Luckily, you can be proactive. With a bone graft, you can undo the damage caused by your gum disease, helping to protect your smile and your oral health. 

How jawbone grafts work

Unlike other types of grafts, a dental bone graft doesn’t require us to take bone from elsewhere in your body. Instead, Dr. Trivedi and Dr. Westcott use specialized grafting material. This essentially serves as a placeholder and scaffolding your body can use to repair your jaw. Your body’s natural healing processes grow bone tissue over the grafting material. 

You don’t have to go under general anesthesia for the procedure. Instead, Dr. Westcott and Dr. Trivedi can perform it using a local anesthetic and a small incision. You can generally head back to your usual daily activities in a day or two. Over the coming months, your body uses the bone graft to build healthy bone tissue in your jaw. 

Whether you’ve been told you need a dental bone graft or you’d simply like to learn more about this option, we can help. Call our Family Dental Care office in West Palm Beach, Florida, at 561-556-1698 today, or book your visit online any time.