Bone Grafting
When Is a Bone Graft Necessary?
If you're looking to fill gaps in your smile with dental implants but have been missing teeth for a while, you're likely a great candidate for a bone graft. Without stimulation from the tooth roots, the underlying jaw tissue quickly begins to atrophy. Within just a few months of tooth loss, the resulting bone loss in the jaw can cause it to weaken to the point where it can no longer support dental implants. Fortunately, a bone graft can repair this damage and restore your candidacy for implants.
During the procedure, your dentist will access the deteriorated portion of your jawbone and replace the lost bone with either natural tissue or synthetic material. This creates a stable foundation for dental implants, the best treatment option for tooth loss and the only one that can halt and prevent further jaw deterioration.
If your sinus cavities lay too close to the implant treatment area, our team in Vancouver, BC, can also perform sinus lifts. In this version of a bone graft, your dentist will raise the floor of your maxillary sinus, which rests directly above the molars in the upper jaw, to create space for the grafted material. This adds support for implants without impacting your nasal function.
Why Choose Enlighten Dental For Your Bone Graft?
Emphasis on Holistic Care
We consider not just the oral health, but also the whole-body wellness of each patient. This includes a commitment to using biocompatible materials. We'll carefully test to ensure you are not sensitive or allergic to any of the materials used in your procedure. We also prioritize successful patient healing. By offering platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and ozone therapy, we can minimize the risk of infection and promote healing, leading to quicker recoveries and more successful treatment outcomes.
Continuity of Care
Some dental practices have to refer out for procedures like impacted tooth removal, implant placement, and bone grafting. This isn't the case at Enlighten Dental. Our team includes dentists, oral surgeons, and trained support staff who work together to address a comprehensive range of oral health needs. We are able to perform tissue grafts and other complex oral surgeries right here at our office. We can even perform tooth extractions and grafts in the same appointment to maximize bone retention.
Lay the Foundation for Your Rejuvenated Smile Request a Bone Grafting Consultation
You don't have to live with tooth loss forever, even if you've been told that dental implants aren't right for you. By restoring lost bone during a grafting procedure using allograft or other modern techniques, we can fortify your jaw so it is once again strong enough to support implants and lifelike tooth restorations.
The benefits of addressing tooth loss are virtually immeasurable. A restored smile can improve what you're able to eat, how you're able to communicate, and even how you, and others, see yourself. In many cases, the best first step to take is to build a strong base for your new smile with a bone graft.
Request a consultation to find out if bone grafting is right for you. You can contact us online or call us in Vancouver, BC:
604-876-9228
Our Vancouver Team Prioritizes Your Wellness
As a team of caring, compassionate, energetic individuals, we support our patients and are united by our common goal to significantly improve the health of everyone we meet. Optimum wellness is our passion.
Preparing for the Bone Graft Procedure
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure. Your oral surgeon will discuss these two important aspects of this procedure with you prior to surgery:
Your Oral Health
Issues like tooth decay, tooth infections, and gum disease need to be addressed before your graft to ensure the best chance for successful grafting recovery and the long-term success of your implants. Because we are a full-service practice offering general dentistry, cosmetic care, dental implants, and more, we can address all oral health needs right here at our Vancouver office.
Sedative Medication
In most cases, we will prescribe oral sedative medication in the form of a pill prior to a bone graft. It induces deep relaxation that keeps procedures like implant placement and grafting comfortable. You'll take this pill about an hour before surgery, and the effects will wear off in the hours afterward. This means you'll need to coordinate a ride to and from your bone grafting surgery.
Enjoy Smoother Recovery after Bone Grafting With PRF and Ozone Therapy
As a holistic dental practice, our commitment to you extends past the end of your surgery and through the entirety of your healing period. Depending on the location of the graft and the bone replacement material used, it typically takes three to nine months to heal. However, our Vancouver team utilizes certain techniques that can ease and expedite the process.
PRF therapy, or platelet-rich fibrin therapy, uses your body's own blood-derived growth factors to stimulate healing of hard and soft tissues. These growth factors are separated from a small amount of your blood using a centrifuge, which creates a sort of organic membrane. When applied to the grafted area, it can promote healing, allowing for a quicker and more comfortable recovery.
The bacteria naturally found in the mouth can pose a heightened risk of infection following oral surgery. Ozone gas acts as a disinfectant. It is effective at eliminating bacteria and reducing the chance of infection. During ozone therapy, your dentist will direct concentrated ozone to the site of your graft. This works to sanitize the area, maintain your oral health, and help you avoid a longer and more complicated recovery process.
Our Pledge to You
We want to bridge the gap between oral health and overall health. All of our custom treatment plans are designed to promote your body's ability to heal.
