The Security of a Strong Jaw Bone
The jaw bone plays an important role in the health and stability of the teeth. While the soft tissue acts to keep the teeth snug, the jaw bone houses the root of the tooth, securing it in place and providing necessary support. In turn, when a person bites down or chews, the jaw bone is stimulated by the movement of the tooth root, which helps the bone remain strong. When all intraoral parts-teeth, gums, and bone-are present and functioning correctly, the mouth is healthy. However, many factors can negatively affect the health of the jaw bone, including gum disease, oral trauma, or tooth loss. All of these complications directly result in resorption, when the jaw bone shrinks without proper stimulation or from damage or disease. This makes it particularly difficult when a patient is considering dental implants to replace one or more missing teeth. The solution-bone grafting-can successfully replace this lost bone volume and reestablish a strong foundation for dental implants.
The Ripple Effects of Jaw Bone Loss
Jaw bone loss not only affects the height of the bone, but the width and density as well. This atrophy causes remaining teeth to shift and facial features to lose aesthetics. Bone grafting takes healthy bone tissue from the patient’s body or a donor source and places it at the site to add volume to the ridge and restore proper height to the area. At this time, we incorporate Leukocyte-Platelet Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) derived from the patient’s blood to encourage rapid and health healing of the area. During the healing process, the jaw bone and new bone material will fuse together, restoring volume and strength to the jaw bone. We provide anesthesia services with all of our bone grafting procedures, including sinus lift or ridge augmentation, to ensure a safer and more comfortable patient experience.
Bone grafting can benefit patients by:
- Restoring facial aesthetics
- Stabilizing adjacent teeth
- Reestablishing bone volume
- Preserving bone longer-term
- Paving the way for dental implants
Board-Certified, Specially Trained, Highly Experienced
Extensive understanding of the bone structures of the face and jaw, especially how they relate to the proper placement of dental implants, is required for a successful bone grafting procedure. As a board-certified oral surgeon, Dr. Aaron Quitmeyer is specifically trained to perform and handle complex bone grafting procedures and all complications that may arise. This combined knowledge, education, and experience help ensure that each bone grafting procedure completed at our office is the most beneficial to our patient’s current and future oral health, with or without the placement of dental implants. If you have been told that you do not quality for dental implants due to jaw bone loss, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Quitmeyer.