We all know that nothing lasts forever. If you’ve lost teeth, then you can appreciate this more than most. What you may not know is that losing teeth can cause your jaw to shrink as well. If that happens, then a bone graft may be needed as part of getting your teeth replacement.
The team at North Shore Smile Surgery wants to do more than give you back your smile. We want to give you back your quality of life. We want you to be able to trust that your dentures will remain secure.
Dental implants make that possible, and sometimes a bone graft is necessary so you can get your dental implants.
If you should need a bone graft, you will want to visit our dentist office in Buffalo Grove, IL, if you live in or near Chicago. Dr. Scott Frank has established himself as of the best oral surgeons in our state and across the country.
Call 847-276-2500 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
Get Dental Implants With Your Teeth Replacements
Dental implants have completely transformed how we are able to replace teeth in modern dentistry.
At one time, your best option was a set of dentures that rested over your gums or a traditional bridge. This provided a replacement for the crowns of your lost teeth, but it didn’t do anything to replace the missing roots.
Your roots are important. They anchor your teeth in your jaw. They also encourage your jaw health. The stimulation provided by your roots caused new bone tissue growth that kept your jaw healthy and strong.
Someone who has lost several teeth or a whole row of teeth can get a dental bridge or dentures to restore the appearance of their smile. This won’t help them maintain the shape and size of their jaw, however.
This is why people with traditional dentures may need to have them replaced or refitted every 3 to 8 years. Without roots, your jaw will shrink. The shape of your mouth will change as a direct result of your shrinking jawbone.
That affects how your dentures fit, which is why dentures that started fitting perfectly can become loose and uncomfortable with time.
Implant-supported dentures and dental bridges anchor your teeth replacements to your jaw and encourage the new tissue growth that keeps your jaw healthy.
Dr. Frank can help you get the dental implants that will make your replacement teeth stable and secure.
Call us today if you would like to learn more, 847-276-2500.
When A Bone Graft Is Needed
One of the benefits of having dental implants is they replace the roots of your lost and missing teeth. As a result, your jawbone continues to receive the signals it needs to keep making new bone tissue.
Many times patients will try living with traditional dentures for a while. As they grow frustrated with their loose, uncomfortable dentures, they will look into getting implant-supported dentures.
Unfortunately, they may no longer have enough bone mass in their jaws to hold the implants in place.
Don’t be discouraged. You can still get dental implants, but you will need a bone graft first to restore the bone mass that you have lost.
A bone graft is a transplant procedure. Bone tissue is moved from one place to your jaw. As you heal, the transplanted bone tissue and your existing jawbone will grow together into a stronger jaw.
The transplanted bone can come from a couple places. Some bone tissue is collected from tissue donors for this purpose. It’s also possible to remove bone from another part of your body to place it in your jaw.
Dr. Frank can discuss these options during your consultation. Contact us today if you would like to schedule an appointment.
Bone Grafts Can Preserve Your Jaw
We also perform tooth extractions in our office. When possible, we like to replace the tooth or teeth that have been removed as soon as possible.
If you need to postpone the tooth replacement, we may recommend a specific type of bone graft procedure called a socket graft. This is done by placing transplanted bone tissue into the spaces where your roots once were.
By doing this, you can minimize the bone loss that will occur before you are able to get your implant-supported teeth replacements.
Talk To Us If You Need A Bone Graft
You are more likely to lose jawbone mass the longer you go without replacing the roots of your lost teeth. The team at North Shore Smile Surgery wants to help.
Schedule a consultation online or call us at 847-276-2500 to get started on your new smile.
