Bone Grafts 101

When it comes to preparing for dental implants, some patients may require extra treatment. At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery, Dr. Snehal Patel and his team specialize in helping patients achieve long-lasting restorations through preliminary bone grafts.

What is Bone Grafting?

Dental bone grafts are used to recreate or reinforce bone in the jaw. There are different types of bone grafts, each which target a unique part of the bone structure. Among the most common and most effective bone graft procedures are

• Sinus lifts, which raise the height of the bone on the upper jaw
• Ridge expansion, which uses bone grafts to improve the structure of the jaw where the sockets sit, also known as the bone ridge.
• Socket preservation, during which sockets of extracted teeth are filled with material to prevent reabsorption into the jaw.

Why would I Need Bone Graft?

The jaw bone is the foundation of your smile and dental function. Your jaw is greatly affected by your oral health. Periodontal disease, misaligned bite, and cavities can all negatively affect the health of underlying bone. These conditions can cause the bone in the jaw to shrink. As the bone shrinks, the jaw fails to provide sufficient support for remaining teeth, which may fall out.

Bone grafts are especially beneficial for patients looking to improve their smile with dental implants. Since the implant post is surgically inserted into the jaw, the bone must be strong enough to support the post and the restoration. Patients with insufficient bone quality may require bone grafting procedures prior to implant placement, to ensure that their restoration is successful and long lasting.

What materials are used in bone grafts?

The materials used in dental bone grafts fall into three classes, based on how they are integrated into the bone.

• Autogenous bone grafts utilize the patient’s bone taken from another part of the body. Because the bone is from the patient’s body, autogenous bone grafts encourage bone growth and have a high integration success rate.
• Allogenic bone grafts are dental grafts taken from a donor. As the bone contains no live cellular activity, allogenic bone grafts serve as framework around which the patient’s existing bone can grow.
• Xenogenic bone grafts are taken from a non-living, non-human species. Similar to allogenic bone grafts, xenogenic bone grafts provide a foundation for the patient’s bone to regenerate around. Both allogenic and xenogenic bones undergo extensive preparation to minimize rejection when placed in the jaw.

In addition to these bone-based materials, synthetic bone grafts can also be used as a safe and successful alternative to actual bone. These include demineralized bone matrices, graft composites, and bone morphogenetic proteins.

Bone Grafts in Northern Virginia

At Lorton Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery, our dental team specializes in providing patients with exceptional dental care. For more information on our bone grafting options and dental implant procedures, contact our Lorton and Springfield practices today.

What To Do In Case of Emergency

No matter how careful you are, dental emergencies can happen at any time to anyone. While some dental emergencies may only be minor, others require immediate dental care in order to preserve the tooth and oral health. Below are some common dental emergencies as well as tips on what to do until you can seek care.

Avulsion: A knocked out tooth is a dental emergency requiring immediate care in order to increase the chances of saving and placing the tooth back into the socket. In the meantime, hold the tooth by the top (the crown), rinse off the tooth using water, and try to place the tooth into its original socket. Do not touch the roots as this can also limit the chances of being able to save the tooth. If you are unable to replace the tooth into its socket, place it in a small container with milk and see your dentist immediately.

Partially dislodged tooth: Similar to avulsed teeth, partially dislodged teeth require immediate dental attention. Applying a cold compress and talking an over-the-counter pain reliever can help alieve the pain until you can see the dentist. Additionally, avoid playing with the tooth with your tongue or finger, as this can introduce bacteria to the vulnerable and exposed roots.

Abscess or Infection: Another serious condition, tooth infections can have significant consequences for a patient’s oral and general health. Often indicated by a painful pimple-like swelling on the gum and tooth pain, if you suspect that you have an abscessed tooth, it is crucial to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Until then, trying easing the pain with a mild salt water solution several times a day.

Fracture, Chip, or Crack: Depending on the type of break, the tooth may be salvageable. In the event you experience a tooth fracture, save the pieces of your tooth and rinse your mouth using warm water. If there is bleeding, use a gauze to staunch the bleeding and apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth to alleviate swelling and pain.

Toothache: While not an immediate dental concern, a persistent toothache may be an indication of underlying dental issues. Until you can see your dentist, use floss to remove any lodged food debris in between teeth and apply a cold compress to the area outside the mouth. While you can take aspirin to relieve the pain, do not put the painkiller directly against the affected area as that can burn the gum tissue.

Lost Crown or Filling: After making an appointment, use over-the-counter dental cement to cover the empty cavity. In the event of a lost crown, save the crown and if possible, try to slip the crown over the tooth.

At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implant and Oral Surgery, we offer procedures to help patients regain function following dental emergencies. In the event you are experience excessive bleeding or pain, visit your local dentist or emergency room.

Preparing for Dental Implants: Socket Preservation

Ideally, treatment for dental trauma should seek to preserve as many of your natural teeth as possible. When this is not an option, proactive dental restoration often involves treating the supporting jaw bone to ensure successful care. Socket preservation is an effective method of reinforcing weakened bone and creating a stable foundation for your future restoration.

What is Socket Preservation?

Socket preservation is designed to encourage the body to naturally repair sockets left by missing teeth. When implemented immediately following tooth extraction, socket preservation efforts can reduce bone atrophy in the jaw. Unlike ridge modification, where the graft is placed on bone, socket preservation places grafts directly inside the tooth socket.

The Socket Preservation Procedure

Following tooth extraction, bone, or a bone substitute, is placed inside the empty tooth socket. The socket is then covered with a gum graft or an artificial membrane that encourages the body to heal the socket itself. While socket preservation is not a permanent solution, it does prevent gum tissue and bone from growing in the empty socket and causing bone shrinkage in the jaw.

How Does Socket Preservation Help Me?

Scientific evidence has shown that, within the first year following tooth loss or extraction, anywhere from 40 – 60% of the socket is reabsorbed by the jaw. This can have a domino effect on other oral structures by causing the jaw bone to shrink, compromising dental function and putting other teeth at risk of becoming loose. Bone atrophy can also make the process of placing dental implants more difficult by requiring preparation surgeries to ensure the jaw is healthy enough to support the implants. 

Socket preservation provides patients with a comprehensive treatment that protects the shape of their smile. By preserving the socket, patients have a greater chance of successful dental implant placement, leading to a long-lasting restoration and improved dental function.

Socket Preservation in Northern Virginia

For more information on preparing for dental implants with socket preservation, contact Dr. Snehal Patel at Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery. With offices in Lorton as well as Springfield, our dental team strives to help patients achieve healthy, beautiful smiles through long-lasting restoration solutions.  

The Health Benefits of Dental Implants

When comparing dental restoration methods, dental implants quickly emerge as a comprehensive treatment for restoring the aesthetic and functional qualities to a patient’s smile. Additionally, dental implants also help patients regain lasting oral health following tooth extraction. By targeting different parts of the smile, dental implants help patients achieve lasting oral health.

Jaw Bone:

The jaw bone is a central part of the dental implant procedure. As the implant post is directly placed in the jaw bone, the two components fuse together during the post-placement recovery period via the process of osseointegration. This fusion creates a sturdy foundation for the future restoration, ensuring a long lasting restoration.

This incorporation also reinforces the strength of the jaw bone. Some patients requiring dental implants exhibit weakened jaw bone density, which may put other teeth at risk of becoming loose or falling out. Preparation procedures and the implant placement procedure can help stimulate healthy jaw bone growth, eliminating these risks and resulting in the return of overall oral health.

Surrounding Teeth

Dental implants are independent restorations. Unlike fixed bridges or dentures, dental implants do not rely on other oral structures like the gums or neighboring healthy teeth to remain in place. As a result, the health of these oral structures remain intact.

For patients missing teeth, an immediate restoration is needed to prevent the gradual shifting of the teeth as dental implants mimic the entire natural tooth structure. Implants provide immovable permanent anchor for neighboring teeth, thereby preventing any movement.

Facial Structure

Untreated tooth loss can also affect the structure of your face. Patients who have experienced tooth loss and failed to fill the missing gap may experience premature aging as an unfortunate consequence. With dental implants, patients can protect the integrity of their face and smile, eliminating the sagging and wrinkles that can be associated with tooth loss.

Choosing Your Restoration

Many patients have noticed improved oral health and functionality through dental implant treatment. For more information about how this procedure can improve your quality of life, contact Dr. Patel and the team at Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery to schedule your consultation.