As great as dental implants are, not everyone is a good candidate for them at first. Some patients require bone grafts before undergoing the treatment process. With that said, you may wonder: Why would you need a bone graft to get dental implants? Your Carrollton dentist is here to answer this question, so please don’t worry. Keep reading to learn about bone grafts, why a patient would need them for dental implants, and other key facts.
Context: What’s a Bone Graft?
Before you learn how bone grafts help dental implants, you need to know what they are. The final explanation won’t make sense without that crucial context.
A dental bone graft is a surgery that rebuilds the jawbone with new material. By transplanting healthy bone tissue, it basically recreates the missing parts of your jaw. The graft thus restores your jawbone’s density as it integrates with nearby tissue and stimulates new growth.
In essence, there are two types of bone grafts: allografts and autografts. The first uses tissue from a human donor, while the second gets grafting material from your other body parts.
Why Would You Need One for Dental Implants?
For some implant patients, a bone graft plays an essential role. It allows the jaw to support dental implants and ensure they stay in place.
You see, long-term tooth loss slowly erodes your jaw. Such erosion will weaken your jawbone until it can’t support implants or handle the placement surgery. A bone graft prevents this outcome by providing your jaw with new tissue, increasing its strength and density in the process.
Bone loss from missing teeth is a serious matter, so you’ll want to consider it carefully. Your treatment will face obstacles otherwise.
How to Tell If You Need a Bone Graft
To be honest, you can’t tell whether you need a bone graft on your own. You’ll have to consult your local dentist to settle that point.
Advanced technology lets dentists see if a patient needs bone grafts. A major example is 3D cone beam imaging, which can closely examine your jawbone and check its density. A scanner using this imaging would confirm if your jaw is strong enough for implant posts or not.
Given the points above, see your dental provider soon. They’ll gladly tell you whether you need a bone graft to get dental implants.
About the Practice
Rosemeade Dental is based in Carrollton, TX. Led by Dr. Tarangini Suggala, our practice strives to be your trusted source for gentle and comprehensive dentistry. That means we offer preventive, cosmetic, and even restorative treatments, as well as emergency dental care. Our team is even able and ready to place dental implants in-house, thus restoring your smile. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (972)-446-1111.