Bone Grafting
Need Bone Grafting or a Sinus Lift? We Can Help
The word bone grafting sounds scary, but it’s really nothing to be afraid of. You’ll feel more relaxed once you understand how simple it is and how the latest techniques make recovery faster, less painful, and more effective than ever before.
Knowing the Basics About Bone Grafts and Sinus Lifts
Sinus lifts and bone grafts are two different procedures used to accomplish the same goal. These treatments are used to strengthen the jawbone, providing a solid foundation for dental implants.
A bone graft may be performed by extracting a portion of healthy bone from an animal, donor tissue, or elsewhere on your own body and placing it into the gumline in a brief surgical procedure. Anesthesia is administered locally in most cases, but sedation may be necessary for the more nervous patient.
A sinus lift is very similar, but is used to improve the shape of upper teeth. The gum tissue is cut, the sinus membrane is lifted up, and bone powder is inserted. This bone will eventually fuse with the surrounding tissue, strengthening it. Swelling and bruising after a sinus lift is common, but the discomfort usually lasts only one or two days if patients follow instructions.
What Are the Reasons I Might Need a Bone Graft or Sinus Lift?
After tooth loss, the most common reason a patient may need bone grafts or sinus lifts is that their natural jaw and gum tissue have deteriorated.
Once a natural tooth is lost, the underlying tissue weakens as it no longer receives the pressure it needs to remain strong. It typically takes about six months for the process of tissue loss to begin.
If you have been wearing a full or partial denture or a dental bridge to restore a missing tooth, if you’ve been missing several teeth with no restorative care plans (such as implants), or if the gums are receding and exposing bone around any remaining sockets, you may require bone grafting or a sinus lift before an implant surgery.
The best way to avoid needing a bone graft or sinus lift is by getting a dental implant (an artificial tooth) within several months of losing your original. Dental implants function like natural teeth, supporting the surrounding tissue so it doesn’t deteriorate.
For more information about sinus lifts and bone grafts, schedule an appointment at our Long Beach office.
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