Bone Augmentation
Scarsdale and Mt. Kisco, NY
Bone Augmentation provided by Dr. Gary Orentlicher and Dr. Andrew Horowitz in Scarsdale & Mt. Kisco, NY at New York Oral, Maxillofacial, and Implant Surgery
 Bone augmentation refers to the procedure performed when the current bone mass of the jaw is not suitable enough to support dental implants. Bone augmentation is also called bone grafting, and it entails creating bone in an area where there is little bone to create enough bone mass to place dental implants. At New York Oral, Maxillofacial, and Implant Surgery, we can help perform bone augmentation required during dental surgery.
Types of Bone Augmentation
Alveolar Ridge Preservation
If you lose your teeth and they do not get replaced immediately, the jawbone that previously supported those teeth can become thinner than before. Ridge augmentation is the bone grafting procedure performed to increase the width and volume of the jawbone on that particular part to provide a dental implant with a stable foundation.
Socket Preservation
Tooth extraction can leave an empty socket. Our dentist might recommend a procedure that puts a graft in the socket immediately after tooth extraction to fill the void left behind by the missing tooth. That type of bone augmentation is called socket perseveration, as it prevents the sides of the socket from caving in.
Sinus Lift
Our maxillary sinuses are located just above the upper back teeth. If your wisdom teeth are extracted, there is a possibility that your sinuses can drop down and cover the space that your wisdom teeth once occupied. When that happens, you cannot have implants in a place that would penetrate the sinus membrane.
The procedure needed before the placement of the implants is a sinus lift, which lifts the sinuses back into position. Our dentist will then perform a bone graft procedure to improve the bone structure below the sinuses and create a solid foundation for the dental implants.
Periodontal Bone Graft
Gum infection erodes the gum that otherwise supports the teeth, leaving them loose. Our dentist will perform a periodontal bone graft, which happens around your existing tooth to reduce its mobility and provide it with additional support.
Benefits of Bone Augmentation
Improves Facial Appearance
Your jawbone plays a central role in defining the shape of your face. The slightest amount of missing jawbone mass can affect facial appearance. By replacing the jawbone at the point where it is missing, you are essentially restoring your original facial appearance. A dental bone graft can also stimulate facial bone structures, which further enhances overall appearance.
Improves Your Chewing Strength
Your jawbone is the most important part of your dental health. If your jawbone is strong enough, you can chew solid foods with no problem. However, you cannot chew solid foods when your jawbone is weak due to bone loss. Bone augmentation replaces and replenishes the strength of your jawbone.
Prevents Further Bone Damage
Your teeth and jawbone exist as one wholesome part of your body. When you lose a single tooth, that part of your jawbone becomes affected because there are no more tooth roots to stimulate the strength of the jawbone. Bone augmentation acts as the tooth roots to make your jawbone strong by restoring the depleted part of the jawbone while preventing further damage to your bones.
Strong Jawbone for Dental Appliances
Bone grafting, or bone augmentation, is the first step you take before vital dental appliances. Some of these dental appliances that need a strong jawbone include dental implants, dental bridges, dentures, and dental crowns. Our dentist might recommend bone augmentation to ensure that these appliances have a strong foundation that will also prevent them from failing.
As Treatment After Facial Trauma
Bone grafts are usually necessary for some dental procedures. However, bone augmentation is required to treat your jawbone after a bacterial infection or after you have been involved in a facial trauma, injury, or teeth misalignment.
Bone Augmentation Procedure
The Preparation Stage
If you are planning to get a bone grafting procedure, you must speak to our dentist before your surgery begins. The conversation essentially revolves around what medicines you should stop taking before the day of the procedure, such as blood thinners. If you are a smoker, you must find out if you should cease smoking until the end of the procedure.
The preparation stage also includes talking about your overall health, such as any fever you had recently. Our dentist might also request additional imaging tests, such as X-rays and CT scans. In some instances, preparing for a bone grafting procedure can involve making arrangements for living arrangements. The dentist will also help you decide on whether to have an autogenous bone graft (using your own bone), an allograft (bone from another person), or a xenograft (bone from an animal).
The Procedure Stage
Your bone grafting procedure will differ greatly depending on the purpose of the bone augmentation in the first place. The procedure starts with you receiving an anesthesia injection to ensure that you do not feel any discomfort or pain during the procedure. The next step in the procedure is to check your vital signs, such as your blood pressure and heart rate, and this continues for the entire time of the operation.
This will be followed by cleaning the affected area before our dentist cuts through the skin and the muscle covering the area to be grafted. The next step involves the insertion of the pieces of bone that should enhance the strength of the area considered weak within the jawbone. Special screws will hold the bone graft together. The procedure is almost complete, and all that is left is for our dentist to complete any necessary repairs. Finally, the skin and the muscle that were previously cut will be closed surgically, and that marks the end of the bone augmentation procedure.
After the Procedure
Our dentist will take you through what you should expect after your surgery. Essentially, you may have some pain after the procedure, and you will have to take pain relievers to ease the discomfort. The healing process does not take long, and you can resume your normal diet fairly quickly.
Care Involved after Surgery
Avoid any vigorous mouth rinsing after bone grafting. Also, avoid touching the wound area because it might trigger fresh bleeding. Gently rinse your mouth to keep your mouth clean. In case of any swelling, use an ice pack to reduce the swelling.
Visit Us for Your Bone Augmentation Needs
If you would like to know more about guided bone regeneration, either for the sake of getting a dental implant or after facial trauma, visit us today at New York Oral, Maxillofacial, and Implant Surgery to talk about your bone grafting needs. Contact us at (914) 768-8220 to schedule your osseous surgery appointment today. |
