For people who are missing one or multiple teeth then the positive impact dental implants Herefordshire can have is totally unbeatable. Dental implants are the world-leading form of tooth replacement, as they not only look like natural teeth but they function like them too. Of course, like with all things there are areas of the dental implant process that need to be fully understood before patients commit to the process. One of the most common things to occur during the process of dental implants is the need for a bone graft, this procedure is generally straightforward, but is an invasive surgery that needs to be carefully considered and not rushed into.
The science bit
Dental implants have two parts to them, the anchor consisting of a small metal cylinder which is placed into the jawbone and recreates the root of the tooth and then the crown which recreates the tooth itself. The implants have the capability of lasting a patient’s entire lifetime if they are taken care of correctly. Unfortunately it can be the case that patients continue on with bad habits post surgery and end up with dental implant failure.
The bone graft
The American Association of Oral Surgeons says that a dentist may well discuss the prospect of a bone graft with a patient if they believe their jawbone is too thin or soft to hold the implant in place. If the jawbone isn’t strong enough to hold the anchor then this could well lead to implant failure, which obviously wants to be avoided at all costs.
What happens in a bone graft?
In some cases it will be the case that the dentist takes some bone from another area of the patient’s body, but in the vast majority of cases now it will be that the dentist will use a bone grafting material and then graft this to the jawbone. This process can be invasive and uncomfortable for sure, but it enables the patients to have a tooth replacement system that will not only give them the look of their teeth but all the feel and function of natural teeth.
After the bone graft has taken place there will be some much needed healing time and this can vary in extent depending on the patient and the size of the graft. The surgery site will need to be fully healed before the dentist is able to move on to the next stage of fitting the dental implants.
In a small number of cases it might be that the bone graft needed is so small that the anchor surgery will be able to be done at the same time, but this is unlikely.
Recovery
As mentioned there’s no hard and fast rule for recovery. It very much comes down to the individual and their body, some people do just naturally heal quicker than others. The most important thing is to be kind to yourself during this time and relax as much as possible, as calm bodies are much quicker at healing than stressed bodies.