Bone Regeneration for Dental Implants
At Vero VIP Dental, we do everything we can to save your natural teeth. But sometimes a tooth is either beyond repair or tooth loss over time has diminished your overall health and caused self-image and confidence problems. Or you might be at a point where your dentures are not working well. You are experiencing discomfort with alignment and speech problems, or you’re interested in a more stable and solid tooth replacement option. Dental implants and bone regeneration could be good options for you.
You Could be a Good Candidate for Dental Implants
If you are in good health, have a solid jaw and healthy bone structure, guided implant surgery can create an exact replica of your missing tooth for perfect tooth replacement. Dental implants are a better alternative to dental bridges and dentures because:
- A dental implant is a stronger and more secure alternative for tooth replacement.
- Implanted metal posts replace and act as a new root for the tooth to provide solid support for the prosthetic teeth.
- For multiple missing teeth, dental implants are more stable. While full dentures tend to rock back and forth and are held in place with messy adhesive, titanium dental implants provide a solid, permanent abutment.
When Bone Regeneration is Warranted
Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, the patient’s jaw bone structure is not solid enough to support an implant. Before the dental implant surgery can begin, the patient must undergo bone regeneration. Similar to bone grafting, when successful, the patient can regenerate a healthy bone foundation to support a dental implant.
A dental bone graft adds density and volume to the jaw where bone loss has occurred. Once the bone graft tissue has been placed, it acts as a space holder and allows the body to begin the bone repair work.
Types of Bone Grafts
At Vero Implants & Periodontics, Dr. Brown evaluates the patient and decides on one of three bone grafting alternatives:
1. Allograft—the tissue is from a human tissue bank (the most common method)
2. Autogenous—the bone graft material is taken from the patient’s body (usually bone from another area of the patient’s mouth)
3. Xenograft—the tissue is from an animal tissue bank (i.e., purified bovine tissue)
How the Grafting Is Done
After an initial exam and x-rays/scans to determine the extent of your bone loss, we will go over your treatment options with a personalized plan to meet your needs. To ensure maximum patient comfort, Vero Beach Dental offers the latest techniques in sedation options.
On the day of the procedure, you will receive a local anesthetic. We create a small incision in the gums, moving the tissue back slightly so that the jawbone is visible. When the bone area to be treated is cleaned and disinfected, we add the bone grafting material, and, in many cases, we cover the material with a membrane. Finally, we reposition the gum tissue and close the incision with stitches.
After the Dental Bone Graft
You may experience some pain, bruising, or swelling, which normally diminishes in a few days and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. You may also need antibiotics, which the dentist will prescribe along with exact instructions.
In most cases, your bone graft must heal completely before we can place the implant. Recovery times vary between three and nine months—sometimes longer. The recovery time depends on variables like the type of graft, where the graft was placed, and the patient’s healing capacity.
You can plan on returning to normal activities the day after the bone graft. If you opted for sedation, you might need an extra day to recover from the effects. You should contact your dentist if you experience a fever (101o or higher), increased or severe pain and swelling, or pus around the grafting site after your procedure.
Explore Your Alternatives With Dr. Brown
If you’re struggling with dentures and beginning to experience frustrating bone loss, VIP Implants and Periodontics has several alternatives. For example, Dr. Brown can anchor your dentures with dental implants so that you can begin speaking normally and stop worrying about your dentures slipping.
We want you to feel comfortable and confident and restore your smile. We want to hear from you. Contact us or schedule an appointment on our web page or phone us at 1-772-569-9700.