Bone Grafting in Philadelphia, PA and Bryn Mawr, PA
A bone graft sounds like a scary procedure. While they aren’t the most common dental procedures, they are used for various purposes and are necessary for oral health and restoring a person’s smile. Thanks to modern dental technology, getting a bone graft done at the dentist doesn’t have to be as scary as it once was. If you need bone grafting, you won’t have to go online and search for bone grafting near me; our dental clinic offers bone grafting on Bryn Mawr Avenue. We handle bone grafting and all related care so you can get your smile and your health in one spot.
To help you feel more comfortable if you need bone grafting, we’ll explain reasons why bone grafting may be needed and how the procedure works when you come to our dental clinic.
Why Is A Bone Graft Needed?
If you’ve never needed a bone graft before, you might be surprised if the dentist tells you you may need one.
One of the most common reasons for a bone graft is low bone density in the jaw. This can happen naturally as we age or with traumatic tooth loss, as without the teeth, the jawbone naturally recedes over time. Not enough jawbone can make a facial droop and change the look of a person’s smile.
Low jawbone density can also make it difficult for someone who wants to replace their missing teeth with dental implants. Without enough jawbone density, installing the titanium posts that the dental implants are fitted to is impossible. The dentist may suggest a bone graft to help the jawbone grow new bone tissue and restore the bone density to normal levels to fit the implants.
Another reason dentists may suggest a bone graft is if you have severe gum disease. You may wonder how gum disease can impact your jawbone. Gum disease causes inflammation and pain in the gums. As it progresses, it can cause the gums to recede and eventually cause degeneration of the bone beneath the gums. Not only will the dentist need to treat the gum disease to stop the spread, but they may also suggest a gum graft to repair receding gums and a bone graft to repair the bone damage caused by the advanced gum disease. Without repairing the bone damage, the teeth can be in danger of becoming loose and falling out, as the gums and jawbone are part of what helps hold the teeth in their place.