Some dental patients must have bone grafting completed by an Oral Surgeon in Summit, NJ before they can have implants placed. A dentist determines this after evaluating the patient by conducting an oral examination and viewing X-rays. Grafting is necessary if the jawbone density is not sufficient, which can occur for various reasons. Osteoporosis, for instance, reduces bone density. Smoking tobacco for many years has a similar effect.
Bone Grafting
During jawbone grafting, a small bit of the patient’s own bone is moved to the jaw and transplanted there at a clinic such as Westfield Oral Surgery. This transplant provides more support for the implant and also stimulates the jaw to produce more bone cells. Not all dental insurance plans cover this type of work, so patients will want to learn whether their specific policy covers any of the treatment.
Combination Grafting and Implant Placement
Depending on the condition of the patient’s jaw, bone grafting sometimes can be done at the same time as implant placement. This is helpful for saving time by not having to wait for the grafting to heal and needing a second appointment for rod placement in the jaw. People understandably want everything to be completed as soon as possible.
Aftercare
An Oral Surgeon in Summit, NJ provides instructions on how to care for the mouth after bone grafting has been done. The area will be sore for a few days and may feel unusual for longer than that. Patients should avoid rubbing the area with their tongue, or rubbing fingers on the cheek along the jawbone. Brushing teeth should continue, but the patient should keep the brush away from the places where grafting has been done. The dentist may recommend a soft diet for the first few days.
Permanent Crown Placement
Once the implant rod has fused with the jawbone, permanent crowns can be placed on top. These are attached to rods that screw onto the implant. The remaining natural teeth and the artificial teeth must be cared for as is normally recommended. That means brushing at least twice a day and flossing every day, including between implants.
