Losing a tooth causes your mouth and other facial features to sag. This can make you appear older than you actually are. Luckily, there is a way to restore the dental formula to its earlier form after tooth loss or gum disease. The name of this restorative procedure is oral bone grafting.

This is a surgical procedure that normally begins with an incision to the affected gum. Next, the surgeon adds bone material to the jawbone beneath it. In most cases, the grafting material contains processed bone minerals around which the human body deposits new bone cells. This grafting material can come from your own body, human donor, or animal.

A collagen membrane coats the oral bone graft to ensure that you get the most effective bone repair. Once the surgeon grafts the bone, healing begins. You will have to wait a couple of months for the graft to create new and strong bone to stabilize the implant. If it’s a minor grafting procedure, both grafting and implantation can be done at the same time. But your dentist is the one who is supposed to make the final decision.

Situations Where Bone Grafts Could Be The Answer

As oral bone grafting gains popularity around the world, more people want to know when this surgical operation might be necessary. Here are a few reasons why you might need oral bone grafting:

  1. Missing Teeth
    Whether you lose your tooth by extraction or by accident, an oral bone graft is the best option for you. If the restoration procedure is not done soon enough, the affected jawbone will weaken. With time, this weakening makes beneficial dental implants more difficult. By grafting the jawbone immediately after the tooth is removed, you can restore and strengthen the affected area. This improves your chance of a lasting replacement tooth.
  2. Teeth Misalignment
    Did you know that teeth misalignment causes bone loss? Research shows that when teeth are completely misaligned, bone stimulation decreases over time. Though there are methods for aligning your teeth, oral bone grafting might still be necessary.
  3. Gum Disease
    Commonly referred as periodontal disease, gum disease affects the jawbone, causing teeth to weaken and loosen. Fortunately, this disease is treatable and completely reversible. Once your gum is completely healed, you can do oral bone grafting to strengthen the jawbone. The most important thing is to find a qualified dentist to do the grafting.