With A Bone Graft, You Don’t Have to Give Up the Dream of Dental Implants Due to Having a Weak Jawbone

If you are seeking a quality, safe, and long-term solution for missing teeth, dental implants can fill that role. Whether you have lost a tooth due to gum disease, tooth decay, physical injury, or some other infection, replacing your tooth should be a priority. Dr. Milton Ruiz and the team at Pines Dental Associates in Pembroke Pines, Florida, offer dental implants for tooth replacement. 

However, if your jawbone does not have enough strong bone material to support an implant, your dentist may require that you get a bone graft first to strengthen your jaw. 

Bone Graft for A Dental Implant

A dental implant is an artificial replacement for a missing tooth. An implant replaces the tooth root below the gumline, while an artificial tooth that will attach to the implant via an abutment will replace the tooth above the gumline. Dental implants look and feel natural, and you will not be able to distinguish it from a natural tooth. Because an implant needs to be surgically inserted into the jawbone, you must have sufficient bone strong enough to support an implant.

The dental implant process will typically happen in stages. First, if the tooth you are replacing is still in place, it will need to be extracted. Once this is done, the jawbone can be prepared for the implant procedure. It is at this time that a bone graft may become necessary. A bone graft is a procedure during which a dentist or oral surgeon will replace lost bone in the jaw. Jawbone loss can happen if a tooth is lost and not replaced within a certain time, as the jawbone where the tooth’s root was once embedded will begin to wear away and deteriorate. Replacing this missing bone via a bone graft will allow for a much more solid base for a dental implant.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Once your jaw has been examined and it is determined that it is strong enough to support a dental implant, the implantation process will begin. The implant will be surgically inserted into the healthy jawbone so that, over the following weeks, it can begin to fuse to the implant via a process called osseointegration. Once this is completed and you are all healed from the procedure, your dentist can attach a prosthetic tooth (usually a dental crown) to complete the process. 

Dental implants provide patients with several benefits, including the following:

• They are an effective method for replacing a tooth and closing the gap between two teeth so that future shifting and misalignment issues can be avoided
• Dental implants are the only tooth replacement solution (outside of implant-supported options) that replace the tooth both above and below the gumline. Bridges and traditional dentures rest on the gum line, putting your jawbone health at risk
• A dental implant, for many, can often last a lifetime, with the prosthetic tooth being the only part that requires replacement

 Learn More About Dental Implants and Bone Grafting

If you have been considering getting a dental implant to replace a missing tooth but have put it off due to the health of your jawbone, there is no need to wait. There are options, including a bone graft, which can restore your jawbone so that it is ready to support a dental implant.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ruiz in Pembroke Pines, FL, please call our office today at (954) 715-4660.

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