Dental implants continue to be a popular solution for patients in the Melville, NY, area with tooth loss. These restorations are made of titanium metal and act as tooth root replacements. They are versatile, being used by patients to replace one, several, or all of the teeth in the smile. However, to be a proper candidate for dental implants, patients need to have enough bone in the jaw to allow a process called osseointegration to occur. Without this, the placement of a dental implant will not be successful. At Implant and General Dentistry of Long Island, Dr. Dean Glasser and his team can educate you on the advantages of building up the bone with bone grafting before placing dental implants and what to expect throughout the process.
What To Expect When Grafting Bone Before the Placement of a Dental Implant
Before the placement of a dental implant, patients may be advised to undergo bone grafting. In this procedure, new bone tissue is added to areas where the jawbone has been lost due to trauma or periodontal disease. Bone grafting can help strengthen the jaw and improve the success rate for dental implants.
Patients should expect some discomfort during the treatment, but local anesthesia should make it bearable. Expect surgery to last between one and two hours, and post-surgery swelling and bruising around the area that may take up to two weeks before subsiding. A diet consisting of soft foods will likely be needed while healing.
Follow-up appointments are necessary after a bone graft so that your dentist can monitor your progress. In between visits, patients should keep the area clean by gently brushing and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash. Dr. Dean Glasser may also provide antibiotics to help reduce the risk of infection.
Request an Appointment To Find Out if You Are a Candidate for Bone Grafting or Dental Implants
If you are in need of bone grafting before dental implants in Melville, NY, call Implant and General Dentistry of Long Island for a consultation. Dr. Dean Glasser and his team will be able to assess your teeth and gums to determine if you are a good candidate for treatment. He can answer any questions or concerns you might have about this procedure, as well as discuss other restorative options that you may be interested in exploring. Call 631-423-6767 today!
