Bone Grafting
Beverly, MA
 Dental implants are a great restorative option. They are a means for you to obtain a brand-new smile that looks natural and functions great. However, not everyone’s mouth is strong enough to support dental implants. If this is true in your case, our team at Thomas P. Rafferty, DDS can utilize bone grafting to strengthen your jawbone and prepare you for dental implants.
When Is Bone Grafting Needed?
Dental bone grafting is most often utilized to strengthen your jawbone in preparation for dental implants. Dental implants require the installation of metal posts directly into your jawbone. If your jawbone is not strong enough, it can potentially fracture or break as a result of the procedure.
Bone grafting may be recommended even if you do not decide to receive dental implants. A weakened jawbone can make you more prone to injury and contribute to poor oral health. Jawbone loss can also result in a less pronounced facial structure if left untreated. Bone grafting can correct or prevent these issues from arising.
During a bone graft, our professionals will first administer an anesthetic. They will then make an incision and graft the new bone fragments to your existing jawbone to rebuild and strengthen it. After they complete the graft, they will suture the incision site. Our team will monitor your healing process through the use of an oral exam and digital imaging.
Where Is the Bone From?
The bone fragments used for your bone graft may come from one of several locations. One of the most common origins of bone fragments for dental grafts is from cadavers. Grafts completed with cadaver bone grafts are called allografts.
The other type of bone often used for dental bone grafts is bone made from synthetic material. The type of material utilized will be chosen based on which option is best suited to meet your needs and what is readily available at the time. Both cadaver bone fragments and synthetic bone provide good success rates and will strengthen your jawbone.
How Long Is the Recovery?
The recovery process from a bone graft is very brief. Your gums may be tender for a few days after the operation and slight swelling is possible. Our team will provide you with a list of foods and drinks to avoid during this recovery process to reduce the risk of irritating the surgical site. After this initial recovery time, you should be able to resume all normal activities without restrictions.
While the initial recovery process is quick, complete bone fusion takes substantially longer. According to WebMD, it can take as little as a few months and as long as a year for the grafted material to completely fuse with your existing bone. Your healing progress is monitored through the use of digital x-rays at regularly scheduled intervals. Once this process is complete, our team can move forward in your restoration process and schedule the implant procedure.
Our professionals can determine if you need a bone graft or gum graft during an oral exam and the use of digital x-rays. If you are ready to start your journey to a brighter, healthier smile, our team at Thomas P. Rafferty, DDS can help. You can schedule your appointment by calling our office at (978) 720-9009
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