Preparing to Restore Your Smile
Having a strong, healthy jawbone is an essential factor for supporting healthy teeth and implant placement. When the jawbone becomes weak or damaged, it can take a serious toll on your oral health, chewing function, and overall appearance.
If you have insufficient jawbone mass, it’s likely Dr. Stockdale will require you to undergo a bone grafting procedure to restore necessary stimulation and qualify for dental implants. Learn what a bone graft is and how it can prepare you for a fully revitalized smile.
What Is Bone Grafting?
A bone graft is a portion of healthy bone collected from your body used to restore the damaged or missing bone in your jaw. With bone grafting, Dr. Stockdale can stimulate your existing bone to naturally regenerate while the developing new tissue merges with existing tissue.
This minimally-invasive procedure recovers the essential stimulation your jawbone needs and supports a durable, lasting foundation for your dental implant.
How Bone Grafting Works
Your journey toward a restored smile begins with your initial consultation with Dr. Stockdale. At this time, he’ll closely examine your teeth, gums, and jawbone to identify whether you need a supplemental procedure before beginning the implant process.
For your convenience, the entire bone grafting process is completed right here at Renaissance Dental Care in a few simple steps:
- The healthy bone tissue will be taken from a donor and grafted to the damaged bone. This process is commonly referred to as allografting.
- You’ll be administered a safe, local anesthetic to numb the grafting and extraction areas.
- Our Rancho Cucamonga dentist will create a small incision in your gums and attach the new tissue to your existing jawbone.
- We’ll use a collagen membrane to cover and protect the graft. This helps the gums heal properly and supports essential jawbone growth.
- Your bone graft is complete! As necessary, Dr. Stockdale will prescribe an antibiotic and oral rinse to help prevent infection or possible complications.
Depending on your individual case, Dr. Stockdale may recommend a synthetic option to create a piece of bone. He’ll discuss your grafting options and explain the procedure in detail during your initial consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ll provide you with safe sedation to help you feel comfortable and relaxed throughout the bone grafting process. Our Renaissance team will be with you every step of the way to ensure everything goes smoothly. You shouldn’t feel any pain as the graft heals, but if you do, Dr. Stockdale recommends taking over-the-counter medication to relieve any discomfort.
Recovering from a bone grafting procedure could take anywhere from two weeks to three months. The recovery time depends on each patient and several other factors, such as the condition of the jawbone and the size of the bone graft. It’s likely that you’ll be asked to avoid extreme physical contact for up to six months following the procedure.
If you don’t have substantial jawbone mass, you’ll be required to get a bone graft for implant placement. This minimally-invasive procedure restores the essential jawbone tissue needed to support a dental implant. If you choose not to get a graft and have insufficient bone density, you won’t be an appropriate candidate for implant placement.
The average cost of a simple, common bone graft ranges from $300 to $800 for a single dental implant area. The cost can vary depending on each patient’s individual case and the condition of their jawbone. At your consultation, Dr. Stockdale will provide you with a more accurate rate after reviewing your oral health and creating a personalized bone grafting plan.
Our Rancho Cucamonga office features affordable and flexible financing options to make sure each patient is able to receive the care they need.