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You may be excited to replace your missing or damaged teeth with natural-looking and functional dental implants. However, here at Weston Dental Specialists, we encourage our Weston, MA patients to use caution because some may not be immediately prepared for the dental implant placement procedure. When this happens, supplemental procedures can sometimes be used to provide the extra assistance patients need to get them ready for dental implant placement.
What Happens During Instances Of Gum Or Bone Deterioration?
If a patient loses a tooth and does not act right away to replace it, tissues around and beneath the tooth start to deteriorate. In the past, if these patients wanted dental implants, they would be unable to get them because their gum and jawbone would not be able to support the implant. Today, the most commonly used supplemental procedures used to correct these problems are bone grafting and gum tissue augmentation. Both procedures add volume to the tissues in places where dense tissue is necessary for dental implants.
Real Life Cases
Here are some specific instances where Weston Dental Specialists patients presented challenges to implant placement. These patients were able to receive supplemental procedures that helped provide a successful result when they later chose dental implant placement. Names have been modified to protect patient privacy.
Gum Tissue Augmentation
Manny was a 42-year-old male patient with three teeth missing in his upper front jaw. After he lost the teeth, he got a dental bridge because it was the easiest option and fit into his budget. Nearly 20 years after his bridge was placed, Manny wanted a more permanent solution to replace his damaged teeth. Unfortunately, the gum tissue around his bridge had receded and he learned that getting dental implants would not be possible with tissue augmentation.
Sometimes in patients like Manny, tooth replacement with a bridge can cause gums to recede, leaving sensitive areas of root exposed. This can increase the risk of infection, pain, disease, and dangerous decay. Tissue grafting can help in these instances since it has been proven extremely successful in helping make gums resistant to recession.
How Can Tissue Augmentation Help Patients Like Manny?
During a tissue grafting procedure, a tissue graft is harvested from the patient’s own palate using a small incision. The specially harvested graft material is then attached to the prepared area and the patient is sent home to heal. The graft then preserves soft tissue in the dental implant area and makes the gum tissues less likely to recede after dental implant surgery. This procedure can be performed at the same time as the dental implant is being installed or before the placement of your implants.
Bone Grafting
Jenny is a 58-year-old female patient with four teeth in her lower jaw missing. After losing her teeth, she got dentures because they were the quickest and least expensive option. Now, Jenny wants a more permanent, functional, and attractive solution to replace her missing teeth. However, due to wearing a removable denture for many decades, Jenny needs bone grafting to help supplement her flattened jawbone. Without a supplemental procedure, Jenny is not an ideal candidate for dental implants.
How Can Bone Grafting Help Patients Like Jenny?
To combat bone deterioration and a flattened jawbone after tooth loss, specialists created procedures to help rebuild proper jawbone volume. These procedures were initially designed to help patients wear dentures and chew. Early attempts were often ineffective, painful, and unsuccessful. Later, doctors discovered that a simple tissue graft from a donated bones source could easily be attached to areas of the jaw lacking proper volume. These later efforts were more successful. Now, patients like James can get bone or tissue grafting right in the doctor’s office in just a few short visits.
Come To Weston Dental Specialists For Quality Regeneration Procedures
In years past, a lack of healthy oral tissues prevented patients from getting dental implants. Today, thanks to the wonders of bone and tissue grafting, patients that were previously unable to get implants, can now take advantage of all the benefits of permanent and natural-looking tooth replacement treatment. Today is a great day to begin your journey toward a gorgeous and healthy smile with dental implants from Weston Dental Specialists!
