The Importance of Preserving Jaw Bone
The health of your jaw bone is important for the function and aesthetics of your smile. Proper bone volume is necessary to adequately support your teeth and maintain the shape of your face. Bone loss, as a result of tooth loss, trauma, or disease, can cause many oral health problems, including loosening teeth and a progressively “sunken-in” facial appearance. Since the jaw bone cannot grow back naturally, restoring this lost bone is necessary for the health of your smile. We use bone grafting techniques to help rebuild the structure of your jaw bone to preserve your oral health or in preparation for dental implants.
Causes of Jaw Bone Loss
- Tooth loss
- Gum disease
- Injury or trauma
- Misaligned teeth
- Ill-fitting dentures or bridges
The Bone Grafting Procedure
When a tooth is lost, the jaw bone around the empty socket begins to recede from lack of stimulation from the tooth root. If no preservative measures are taken, the bone will continue to resorb, which may cause surrounding teeth to shift or your bite to change. We help restore proper volume back to the jaw bone with a bone graft. During the procedure, we take bone from a donor source or a separate part of your body and place it on the site in the form of bone granules. A special collagen membrane is used to cover the area to help encourage proper healing and keep the granules in place. The following procedures may be used in conjunction with bone grafting:
- Sinus lift
- Sinus augmentation
- Ridge augmentation
- Socket preservation
- Guided tissue regeneration
The Benefits of Piezosurgery®
We provide a revolutionary new bone surgery technique called Piezosurgery®, which uses ultrasonic vibrations to gently cut bone without harming the surrounding soft tissue. This is especially helpful when bone grafting is needed to prepare a part of the jaw bone for a dental implant, especially if a sinus lift is required. We incorporate this procedure because of the precision with which we can cut bone. During surgery, you will feel more comfortable and experience less bleeding at the treatment site. After surgery, healing is improved, swelling is minimal, and the fusion of the new bone material to your existing jaw bone is better and faster than traditional methods with a dental drill.
Improving Your Care with Advanced Techniques
Advanced dental techniques and materials have made routine procedures like bone grafting increasingly more predictable and comfortable for the patient. We are focused on providing the best care for you, and we are constantly investing in the latest materials and technology. Dr. Garhardt has completed advanced continuing education courses in ridge augmentation and preservation for restoring the natural contour of the jaw bone, and utilizes the knowledge gained from his hands-on training during your treatment. We also strive to make your appointment as relaxed as possible and offer oral sedation should you need help feeling calm and anxiety-free during your procedure.