Let’s say that you’ve decided to move forward with dental implants. But during your consultation, you discover your jawbone has been depleted from either disease or from years of tooth loss. You may be feeling dejected, but keep in mind that this will not prevent you from getting dental implants: instead, you may need additional treatments to help add volume to your jawbone so that your implant can succeed. Let’s take a look at why.
You may be asking yourself this very question. When it comes to dental implants, a lot of their success rides on the process of osseointegration: a process in which the titanium of the implant triggers the surrounding bone to regenerate and wrap around the implant. Without this crucial step, an implant wouldn’t be fully embedded and may even fail or fall out.
In response to those who may have depleted jawbone, Drs. Tharp & Klaus offer bone grafting procedures to help rejuvenate your structure and volume, to create a more stable foundation for your implant treatment. Depending on the size of the depleted area or the types of implants you’re getting, these treatments might be able to be performed at the same time as the initial implant surgery. This will be determined by Dr. Tharp or Klaus.
There is no one way to do a bone graft for dental implants. There are a few types of graft procedures we offer here, and we can help decide which one is best for you.
Sinus Lift
This type of surgery adds bone to your upper jaw area, placed between your jaw and maxillary sinuses on either side of the nose. This type of augmentation is best for patients who are getting implants in their upper jaw, especially near the back of the mouth, where this graft is placed.
Split Ridge
A split ridge is a type of bone graft that widens the jaw slightly, in order to fit an implant that may otherwise not fit. This involves splitting the jaw along the top ridge and placing bone granules or other graft materials between the split in order to encourage regrowth.
Block Grafts
There are instances when a standard bone graft may not be enough to cover the whole depleted area. In these cases, a block bone graft may be used; it differs wherein the volume of bone needed for the procedure is harvested from the patient in the form of a block (hence the name). This block of bone sample is typically taken from places where the patient has ample bone such as the chin.
Membrane Grafts
After an implant is placed, membrane grafts are used to protect the bone cavity against gum growth. This way the bone can grow confidently without having the gums taking over. There are dissolvable membranes that disappear as your bone graft takes effect, as well as non-dissolvable membranes.
Your dental implants will have a higher chance of success if they have the proper foundation and support structure you need. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple grafting procedure, and we can help find out which one is best for you. Contact us in Jackson, MS and learn more about how we can provide you with quality dental implants.
Consult with Dr. Tharp & Dr. Klaus whether you need teeth cleaning, oral screening, or restorative dental care in Jackson, MS. You can trust our team to deliver quality dental services that will leave you with a smile on your face. We believe that each and every patient that walks through our door deserves a great smile, and we’ll work with you to find the treatments that fit your needs. During our consultations, you’ll be able to ask your questions one-on-one, get evaluated, and learn more about the ins and outs of your dental treatment.
Don’t hesitate to contact us today; you deserve a beautiful brilliant smile.
To our beloved patients, friends, colleagues, and families:
Tharp and Klaus Dental Clinic is continuing to follow strict safety measures to ensure the health of our patients and staff during the COVID 19 pandemic. Please do not enter our facility if you have been exposed to the virus or are displaying any symptoms. We ask that you call us when you arrive for your appointment, and we will direct you when to enter. Please wear a mask when entering and leaving the clinic. Thank you for your consideration.