Bone Grafting
The Impact of Missing Teeth on Jaw Health
Much like muscles require regular exercise to maintain their mass, your jawbone relies on active use to stay healthy. Natural teeth are deeply embedded in the jaw, stimulating the surrounding alveolar bone through everyday activities such as chewing and biting. When teeth are missing, this essential stimulation ceases, causing the bone to break down and resorb over time as the body no longer actively uses it.
Understanding Bone Atrophy and Implant Viability
If left untreated, the bone deterioration associated with missing teeth leads to severe jawbone atrophy. This progressive reabsorption results in a significant lack of both bone quality and quantity. Consequently, a jaw in this depleted condition cannot adequately anchor a structural restoration, meaning many patients are initially not viable candidates for the placement of dental implants.
FAQ
How Bone Grafting Restores Your Foundation
Bone grafting provides a targeted surgical opportunity to not only replace missing bone but to actively promote new bone growth in the specific area. This crucial restoration allows us to successfully place implants of the proper length and width, ultimately recovering your full oral functionality and aesthetic appearance. Depending on the severity of bone loss, the graft may be placed simultaneously with the implant or require a dedicated 3 to 6-month healing period first.
