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Dental implants are artificial, tooth root-like titanium rods that are surgically inserted into the jaw. Once the dental implants fuse with the jawbone through a process called “osseointegration,” a prosthesis (dental crown, denture, or a dental bridge) can then be attached where the natural tooth/teeth are missing.
However, for any dental implant procedure to be successful, there must be enough bone in the jaw to support the dental implant. In case, there is no sufficient bone in the jaw to support the teeth implants, the emergency dentist would recommend bone grafting for dental implants in Houston, TX.
Bone graft for dental implants in Houston, TX is a dental procedure that involves adding bone material artificially to the insufficient jawbone to reinforce it. The bone grafting procedure is usually done before the dental implant procedure, like dental implant bone loss repair to reinforce the insufficient jawbone to support the dental implant near me. The bone material may be extracted from other parts of the body (the chin or hip) or extracted from other sources.
Before you undergo the dental implant procedure, your dentist would examine your mouth to determine if you have sufficient jawbone to support the dental implant. If you have insufficient jawbone to support the dental implant, you would have to undergo bone grafting for dental implants in Houston TX prior to the procedure, otherwise, your dental implant would fail over time.
If you eventually have to undergo bone grafting for dental implants in Houston TX, the length of the overall dental implant procedure would be affected by the bone grafting procedure. The bone grafting material for the jawbone can be sourced from the following places
- From the patient’s bone
- From the bone of another person (donor)
- From a cadaver
- From an animal
- From synthetic dental materials
Only your dentist would be able to determine a highly recommended source or your bone grafting material considering your health and the size of the bone graft.
Bone grafting for dental implants in Houston TX can be performed in these three ways
Little Bone Grafting
This occurs when the dentist has to extract a tooth or teeth before the dental implant procedure. There may still be some substantial bone in the jaw and only a little bone graft may be required to reinforce the jawbone. Little bone grafting does not add to the overall treatment time as the graft material (in the form of granules) is only placed into the empty socket and becomes part of the natural jawbone within a few weeks.
Medium Bone Grafting
In the case where a more significant amount of bone has been lost in the jawbone and there is a need to restore the height and width of the jawbone, the middle bone grafting is conducted.
During the middle bone grafting procedure, bone granules are added to the affected jaw area through a small incision. As the incision heals, the height and width of the affected jawbone would be restored.
Big Bone Grafting
In case of multiple teeth loss over a long period, the patient would have experienced a substantial loss of bone from the jaw and big bone grafting must be conducted. In this case, a block of extracted bone is used instead of the bone granules. The block of bone would be attached to the affected jaw area by the dentist using screws and plates. However, bone granules would be used to fill in small spots. This procedure usually takes several months to heal up completely and it will affect the treatment period of the dental implant procedure.
Sinus Lifting
This is another type of bone grafting for dental implants in Houston TX but is usually done for the upper jawbone. When bone grafting is required in the upper jaw before the dental implant procedure, the sinuses above the upper jaw must be carefully shifted so that they are not affected by the drilling. Hence, the dentist must lift the floor of the sinuses to allow some space for more bone grafting. The sinus lifting procedure takes about four months to heal up completely. This means that patients who undergo sinus lifting must wait for an additional four months before they can continue with their dental implant procedure.
Note, the type of bone grafting for dental implants in Houston TX you will receive from the four types stated above depends on how much bone you have in your jaw and how much bone is needed for the dental implant procedure.
Complications with Teeth Implants
Dental implant procedure is really safe but only if it is performed by a well-experienced and professional dental implant dentist. Dental implant procedures is successful with a success rate of about 98 percent according to an AAID report. Another report by the Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science revealed that about 97 percent of affordable dental implants in Houston lasted long-term. However, despite the high success rate, dental implant failure sometimes occurs and one of the reasons is bone grafting complications. Here are some potential bone grafting complications
- Persistent pain, bruising and swelling
- Sinus problems in the upper jaw
- Numbness in the gum, cheeks, and lips.
- Damages to the natural teeth, nerves, or blood vessels.
- Bacterial infection
Normally, there may be an experience of pain, swelling, discomfort, minimal bleeding, and bruising after the bone grafting procedure, these are signs that your body is healing up and should go away after some days. But if any of these signs remain persistent or becomes excessive after some weeks, consult your dentist immediately for advice. Your dentist may prescribe some OTC painkiller, give you some medications, or give you some coping tips.
Do you want durable and long-lasting bone grafting for dental implants in Houston TX? choose an experienced and reputable dentist near me or oral surgeon for your bone grafting procedure. This will reduce your risk of teeth implant complications greatly. For more information on bone grafting and teeth implants, contact us today.