The dental bone grafting is a very important procedure for many people to recover their oral health and enjoy a complete smile, especially functional. But what is a dental bone graft? We explain what it is and what it serves, keep reading this article and do not stay without any doubt.
What is a dental bone graft?
In short, it is to add bone to an area where it has been lost, usually in the jaw or maxilla. This process is necessary when our own bone is not enough to support a dental implant or to restore the appearance of our teeth, being a good solution for missing teeth.
Dental bone grafting is a surgical procedure to add or increase a quantity of bone in the area of the mouth that has lost bone mass. The loss of dental bone can be due to several reasons: tooth extraction, loss of teeth, periodontal diseases, among others.
The goal of dental bone grafting is to regenerate that bone that has been lost so it is strong enough to support a dental implant.
Dental bone graft procedure
A bone graft in the dental area can be obtained from the patient himself or from a donor, although it is more common to use an artificial bone if the bone loss is not very large. There are several ways to place the dental bone:
- Using membranes that fix the bone in the position we want
- Bone graft in blocks
- For the posterior area, bone augmentation
To do this, an incision should be made in the area where the dental bone graft is to be made, lifting and separating the gum. At this time, the bone we have chosen should be placed and fixed in the maxilla area with a screw. Then, the area will be covered so that the graft is not lost and sewn up so that the saliva does not infect.
Usually, the healing time is three or four months, although if the bone is artificial, it will have to wait up to six months.
Is it painful?
Something that worries people who have to go through the intervention is the issue of pain. The dental bone graft itself is painful, even though it is a surgery that is performed under local anesthesia. After the procedure, it is normal to have inflammation and discomfort, but they are usually quite manageable with medication prescribed by the specialist. So, if you are going through this surgery, do not worry, after a few days you can resume your daily life.
Recommendations after a dental bone graft
Below, we give you a series of recommendations to be able to cope with the postoperative of this surgery.
The first thing you have to do is apply cold in the area that has been treated and not drink hot drinks for a few days. This will help you in an anti-inflammatory way. At bedtime, do it with your head higher than the rest of your body. Do not forget to use antiseptic rinses so that a stable clot is formed in the area of the hour and prevent bleeding. Don’t eat hard or hard foods, replace them with soft options.
If you are considering getting a dental implant and are concerned that you may not have enough bone mass, dental bone grafting is the solution. At Gross Dentistas, we are a dental clinic in Malaga and we can help you with this case and advise you on the best solution to start with your dental implant. Ask for an appointment with us as soon as possible.
Ortodoncista especializada en el sistema de ortodoncia invisible, extensa trayectoria profesional y un gran número de pacientes satisfechos con los resultados obtenidos tras la finalización de su tratamiento.