How Long Does a Dental Bone Graft Last?
Tooth loss can cause your jawbone to deteriorate over time. This is because your jawbone lacks the stimulation it needs to maintain bone density. Without a strong jawbone, dental implants won’t have the support it needs.
That’s where a dental bone graft comes in.
It’s a surgical procedure where bone tissue is transplanted to the affected area to repair and rebuild the existing bone in your jaw. The grafting material used in this procedure could be from your body, a donor or a synthetic material, and our dentist will determine the best option according to your needs.
If you’ve been struggling with bone loss due to missing teeth (or even gum disease), a dental bone graft can be a good option for you. This is especially true if you are getting dental implants because implants need adequate bone density to fuse and heal properly.
At Brisbane Implants, our bone grafting procedure is the best way to strengthen your jaw, opening the doors to a beautiful smile enhanced by our premium dental implants.
What are the Benefits of Bone Grafting?
The main benefits of bone grafts include:
Support: A bone graft helps maintain bone density and strengthen your jaw. If you’ve lost teeth, this procedure can help prevent further bone loss or damage to the existing structures.
Improved Oral Function: A dental bone graft doesn’t just restore bone density. It also restores the functionality of your teeth affected by tooth loss. As a result, you can expect to regain full chewing function and proper speech, especially once dental implants are in place.
Improves Appearance: Besides allowing you to chew and speak properly, the jawbone is also responsible for providing structure to your face. That’s why bone loss can affect your facial features, causing a sunken appearance. A bone graft can support your facial structure and enhance your overall appearance.
Long-Term Oral Health: By providing a stable foundation for dental implants, bone grafts help prevent further bone loss. This helps minimise the risk of complications such as changes in your bite and facial collapse, preserving your oral health in the long run. The earlier you tackle bone loss, you’ll be setting yourself up for fewer complications.
Improves the Success of Dental Restorations: Bone grafts help improve the success of dental restorations like dental implants, improving their function and longevity.
How Long Do Dental Bone Grafts Last?
Dental bone grafts have got a solid track record. In most cases, they usually fuse permanently with your jawbone to last a long time and provide a stable foundation for dental implants.
However, here’s the thing – the longevity of a bone graft can vary from person to person. And hey, like any dental procedure, it’s not without any risks or complications. Understanding the factors that can affect the success of this procedure, however, can make a world of difference in achieving the best possible results.
While many factors play a role in determining the success and longevity of a bone graft, here are a few key factors that come into play:
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Pre-Operative Diagnosis: A successful bone grafting begins way before the actual procedure. It starts with the initial consultation. When you visit us for a consult, our dentist will do a thorough evaluation of your oral health and medical history and even carry out imaging tests to assess your oral health and bone structure. With this information, we will then plan your treatment tailored to your specific needs, improving the chances of long-term success.
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Healing: A bone graft needs at least 4-6 months to heal and integrate with your jawbone before it can be deemed strong enough to hold a dental implant. That’s why rushing the healing process is not a good idea. If your body is not given the time it needs to heal, the bone grafting procedure may fail.
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Health: Your oral and overall health plays a huge role in the success and longevity of this procedure. Conditions like gum recession, diabetes and osteoporosis can affect bone health and slow down healing and successful integration with the bone. For these reasons, it’s important to address any oral or health conditions before the procedure.
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Smoking: Heads up – smoking has been shown to negatively impact the success of bone grafting. If you are planning to get a bone graft and restore your teeth with dental implants, it’s important that you either quit smoking before the procedure or, at the very least, avoid smoking for the recommended time period. This will give your bone graft the best chance to heal properly.
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Medication: Certain medications like blood thinners can increase the risk of bleeding during the procedure, while others can affect the healing process. To ensure success, it’s super important to keep us in the loop about any and all medications you are taking.
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Expertise of the Dentist: When it comes to bone grafting (or any dental procedure), the dentist you choose is everything. A skilled and experienced dentist can make all the difference. So, when it comes to bone grafting, look for a dentist who specialises in bone grafts with a successful track record and happy patients. A skilled dentist can assess your case, recommend the best type of graft and ensure the procedure is carried out precisely without complications.
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Post-Operative Care: Equally important to pre-operative diagnosis and surgery is postoperative care. How well you follow our dentist’s aftercare instructions will significantly impact the success of your bone graft. This may involve taking the prescribed medications, sticking to a soft food and nutritional diet and maintaining good oral hygiene. Taking good care of your oral health will go a long way and ensure smooth healing and longevity of the procedure.
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Regular Check-ups: Regular dental check-ups allow for early detection of potential issues and timely intervention. This helps protect the longevity of your bone graft and prevent any complications.
If you have bone loss and are looking to get dental implants, dental bone grafting is an important procedure to restore your oral health, functionality of teeth and smile. A successful bone grafting involves careful planning, expert guidance and a commitment to post-operative care. That’s why it’s important to choose a dentist who understands the importance of all of this.
At Brisbane Implants, we are committed to ensuring high success rates for our patients with precise and meticulous dental procedures and comprehensive post-operative care.
So, if you believe you need dental bone grafting, contact our team at Brisbane Implants. We will evaluate your specific needs and recommend the best treatment plan for your smile and overall well-being.