Want to know more about bone grafting from your Lawrenceville, NJ, Periodontist.

Bone grafting is a procedure that helps patients grow bone to hold a dental implant. This treatment provides individuals otherwise incapable of getting implants, candidates for the procedure. Doctors can grow bone so it's the proper length and width, to ensure functionality and aesthetic appearance.

Bone is constantly remodeling itself. When someone loses a tooth, their jawbone shrinks. Your jawbone's adaptability is important because it allows your Lawrenceville Periodontist to position teeth properly in case braces are needed.

In the maxillofacial region, the facial region, your doctor bone grafts using the inside of the mouth, the chin, or third molar area, for example.

The procedure consists of your doctor making an incision in gum tissue to access bone. Patients suffer from some soreness that can be managed by ice therapy, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication and/or pain relievers.

Bone Grafting Uses

Bone grafts are used for the following procedures:

• Saving Teeth: To prevent tooth loss, bone around loose teeth are regenerated through grafting to increase support.
   
• Dental Implants: Dental implants are state-of-the-art installations that are used to fix gaps in your smile. Your dentist places a biocompatible titanium post into the jawbone to replace the missing tooth root. The process takes about three to six months to complete, since the post needs to fuse to the rest of the bone.
   
• Tooth Extractions: Depositing bone grafting material into a tooth socket after tooth extraction will help in case you need a dental implant in the future.

Types of Bone Grafts

• Autograft
• Allograft
• Xenograft
• Alloplast

If you have questions, or concerns about bone grafting, you should call your Lawrenceville, NJ, periodontists, Dr. John Lu and Dr. Raul Figueroa. You can reach Lawrenceville Dental Implant Center And Periodontics at (609) 896-0700.