Bone Grafting Treatment from Dr. Stephanie Sfiroudis DDS, MS

Bone grafting treatment in Nassau County is most often used to prepare your jaw for dental implants. There are a number of different reasons that you may experience bone loss in your jaw and mouth. Some people simply don't have ample jaw bones for implants and other people may require grafting to repair the damage caused by periodontal disease. Dr. Sfiroudis utilizes this procedure as well as the latest technology to rejuvenate your jaw in the most efficient and pain-free way possible. Contact Dr. Stephanie Sfiroudis today for a free consultation.

What Is Bone Grafting?

Bone grafting or bone augmentation is a periodontal regenerative surgery. It recreates bone that may have been lost due to severe periodontitis or caused by a lost tooth. Periodontitis is an advanced form of gum disease. As your immune system attempts to combat the infection in your gums, it actually eats away your bones in the process. This loosens your teeth. When caught early enough, a bone graft can sometimes be used to reverse the damage.

Whenever a tooth is lost, movement occurs in the mouth. This movement causes a chain reaction that will negatively affect your jaw bone. All of the structures in your mouth can shift and change due to a single lost tooth. Periodontal disease can result in teeth being lost or having to be removed, but tooth loss can also be the result of an accident or injury.

Often times when a tooth is lost, the solution is a dental implant to replace the tooth. If bone loss has also occurred, then there simply may not be enough jaw bone to successfully implant the metal post that holds the prosthetic tooth in place.

Some people also just have naturally more shallow jaw bones than others. Bone grafting increases the jaw bone depth, which improves the structure of the mouth and creates a solid foundation for a dental implant to replace a lost tooth or bridge. It can also strengthen the bone to prevent further loss of teeth.

A bone graft can be created using a number of different materials. It is sometimes possible to use some of your own bone. Other options include cadaver bone, donated bone, cow bone and synthetic glass bone. Using your own bone has been proven to work best.

Why Is Bone Grafting Important?

In some instances a dental implant cannot be inserted due to the structure of your jaw bone. A bone graft is required beforehand in order to prepare your jaw for the implant. Having a bone graft greatly increases the chances of success of any type of dental implant for any number of teeth. Having to get bone augmentation will typically add a few more weeks to the dental implantation process due to the growth and healing time needed for the graft.

Bone grafts can also improve changes in your facial structure that have occurred due to bone loss. Bone loss affects your gum line and the chain reaction that occurs can actually change the shape of your jaw and affect the structure of your entire face. Replacing that bone can help to return your face to how it was before, improving your appearance.

What Is The Bone Grafting Treatment Process?

Bone augmentation is minimally invasive. Before the procedure takes place, Dr. Sfiroudis utilizes advanced 3D imaging to locate holes in your bone and other sites of bone loss or areas that need additional bone to accommodate an implant.

It is an outpatient procedure that involves a local anesthetic to numb the area. The body is then coaxed into growing more bone where it is needed. Your periodontist will separate your teeth and gums in order to gain access to the roots of your teeth and to your jaw bone that requires work. The roots of your remaining teeth are cleaned thoroughly and holes in the bone are filled with the chosen augmentation material.

The bone graft is then covered with a barrier material - either skin or a synthetic material. This prevents the gums from growing into the holes during the early days of the healing process. Once the grafts and barriers are in place the gums are stitched up and may be bandaged and dressed, depending upon the extent of the grafting. Dressings can typically be removed after the early healing has finished.

Recovery Time

Complete healing of a grafted area takes 6 to 9 months. This also allows ample time for the new bone to grow. Any teeth that were moved during the graft will reattach to your jaw during this time as well. Dr. Sfiroudis may prescribe pain medications for use during your recovery, which makes the healing process essentially pain-free. You may also be prescribed a mouth rinse to help keep the area clean and free of bacteria, along with antibiotics to prevent infection.

It is extremely important that you keep the surgical site and the rest of your mouth as clean as possible as it heals. Brush and floss regularly as you normally would, and when your surgical dressing is removed you should also brush gently over the teeth at the site of the graft.

You might experience mild swelling around the surgical area, but this is typically taken care of with the application of an ice pack to the corresponding area of the face. To ensure that the graft is healing properly, you will likely need to make another appointment with Dr. Sfiroudis 7 to 10 days following your surgery. If you have a dressing over your graft, this is typically when it will be removed.

Call For A Free Consultation Today

If you have questions about bone grafting treatment in Nassau County, then contact Dr. Stephanie Sfiroudis for a free consultation. Most all insurance programs are accepted and the office will take care of all of your insurance paperwork for you to make the process even easier. There are also financing options available, so ask to find out if you qualify.