Bone Grafting in Palm Beach, FL
What You Need to Know About Bone Grafting in Palm Beach, FL
If you’ve been told that you’re a candidate for a dental implant in Palm Beach, there’s a good chance you also have heard that a bone graft may be part of the procedure.
At Dr. Mitchell Josephs, we know that the term “bone graft” can cause a certain amount of dental anxiety for some patients when they hear it used in a sentence to with regard to restorative dentistry.
That’s why we hope the following information will help ease anxiety once you understand more about the procedure and how it’s most commonly used in dental implant procedures.
But let’s first take a look why your missing tooth should be replaced.
Dental Implants Can Restore Your Smile and Your Oral Health
The most common use of a dental implant is to replace a tooth that needs to be removed due to injury, decay, or damage. Although Dr. Mitchell Josephs will always strive to preserve your natural teeth, situations do arise where the damaged tooth poses other problems to your overall oral health, at which time an implant will be used to ensure proper alignment of your remaining teeth.
When a Bone Graft is Needed in Conjunction with a Dental Implant
First, let’s talk about the mechanics of a dental implant. They’re designed to attach to your jawbone with the help of a support, most commonly called an abutment. This placing and security of this abutment is critical to ensure longevity of the dental implant. In some cases, patients may not have enough natural bone thickness and density in their jaw bone to support the abutment. This can be due to a number of reasons such as age, gum disease, genetics, and more. However, the solution to gain enough denseness and thickness of the jaw bone is to perform a bone graft.
Next, let’s look at the two main types of bone grafts that can be used at Dr. Mitchell Josephs during a dental implant or other cause-needed basis. The less common option is to use a harvested bone from another part of your body. The second, more common, option is to use artificial materials that mimic the human bone.
When a bone graft is needed, the dental implant procedure can take several months from onset to completion since it will require more healing time. Your dental professional will be able to give you a more precise recovery period after a treatment plan has been established.
The good news in all of this? Afterwards, you’ll have a tooth that’s securely attached to your jawbone that will function the same as your natural teeth!
Ready to Learn More? Dr. Mitchell Josephs is Here to Help!
If you have other questions about bone grafting, dental implants, or other restorative dental procedures in Palm Beach, the caring and professional staff at Dr. Mitchell Josephs are here to help! Give us a call or make an appointment now to learn more!