A missing tooth does more damage than just ruin your smile. If the empty socket is left open for long, it can cause your face to sag, impair your ability to chew and speak correctly, cause the neighboring teeth to shift out of position, and even worse, lead to jawbone loss.
If there’s no tooth, the underlying bone, known as the alveolar bone, lacks stimulation since there is no chewing. Naturally, the jawbone is designed to strengthen and buildup due to the activity of chewing. If no chewing happens, the bone lacks stimulation, leading to jawbone loss.
Other causes of jawbone loss include:
If left untreated, the jawbone can collapse, affect the remaining teeth, or distort your facial structure, among other problems. If you don’t have enough jawbone, your dentist is likely to recommend bone grafting.
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that seeks to repair and rebuild the jawbone by implanting healthy bone tissues on the weak jawbone. Depending on the amount of jawbone loss, the treatment takes about 3 to 6 months.
If you’re wondering what happens in a bone grafting dental office, here is what to expect:
There are five types of bone grafting material, namely:
Having a healthy and enough jawbone is highly essential. In dentistry, bone grafting is necessary to accomplish the following goals.
If you’re suffering from severe periodontal disease, your jawbone is affected, and your teeth can become loose or even fall out. To save the teeth, the dentist may have to repair the repair and regenerate the surrounding bone. This increases bone support and helps to keep the teeth in their rightful position.
If periodontal disease or other dental conditions has caused your jawbone to thin or weaken, the dentist may recommend repairing it. If not repaired, the jawbone can collapse, cause teeth falling, and cause facing sagging. To avoid secondary problems, it’s best to repair the jawbone as soon as possible.
Jawbone loss is a major reason why most dental patients don’t qualify for implant surgery. During dental implant surgery, the implant is surgically attached to the jawbone of the missing tooth. If the patient doesn’t have enough jawbone to support the implant, it can fall out. Dental implants require enough bone volume and density to work and function properly.
No. Bone grafting isn’t painful. During the procedure, you’ll be sedated to prevent pain and keep you relaxed. However, it’s possible to feel minor pain or discomfort after the procedure. Your dentist may prescribe medication for the same.
Are you looking for bone grafting services, or do you need further information about bone grafting? Contact Westwood Dental Group today to book your appointment.
©2025 Westwood Dental Group | Privacy Policy | Web Design, Digital Marketing & SEO By Adit | Notice of Nondiscrimination