Restore jawbone strength and prepare for successful dental implants with bone grafting at Floss Lincoln Park. Our skilled dental team uses advanced bone grafting techniques to rebuild lost bone density, creating a stable foundation for implant placement and long-term oral health. Dr. Delone Jouja and Dr. Martha Silva offer comprehensive implant solutions in our state-of-the-art Lincoln Park practice, guiding you through every step of your smile restoration journey. BOOK NOW The discovery that you need bone grafting before dental implant placement can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already processing the reality of tooth loss and the complex treatment journey ahead. Many patients feel caught off guard by this additional step, wondering why their jawbone isn’t strong enough to support implants immediately and worrying about extended treatment timelines and additional costs. At Floss Lincoln Park, we understand that bone grafting represents both hope and complexity in your journey toward restored oral health. Our skilled team provides comprehensive bone grafting procedures that create the strong foundation necessary for successful dental implant placement in Lincoln Park. We take time to explain each step of the process, ensuring you feel confident and informed throughout your treatment.
Why Bone Grafting May Be Necessary
When you lose a tooth, the surrounding jawbone begins deteriorating almost immediately due to a lack of stimulation from the tooth root. Within the first three months of tooth loss, you can lose up to 25% of the bone in that area, with continued bone loss occurring over time. This natural process, called resorption, can leave insufficient bone volume and density to support dental implants securely. Several factors influence the extent of bone loss you might experience. The length of time since tooth extraction plays a significant role, as does the original cause of tooth loss. Teeth lost due to trauma typically leave more intact bone structure compared to those lost due to periodontal disease, which often damages surrounding bone tissue extensively. Your individual anatomy and health factors also affect bone preservation. Some patients naturally maintain bone structure better than others, while medical conditions, medications, or lifestyle factors like smoking can accelerate bone loss. Age-related changes in bone density throughout your body similarly impact jawbone health and healing capacity.Different Types of Bone Grafting Procedures
Modern dentistry offers several bone grafting approaches, each designed to address specific situations and patient needs effectively.Socket Preservation Graft
Socket preservation grafts are performed immediately after tooth extraction, filling the empty socket with bone graft material to minimize bone loss during healing. This proactive approach often prevents the need for more extensive grafting later.Sinus Lift
Sinus lift procedures address bone loss in the upper jaw’s posterior region, where the maxillary sinus cavity limits available bone height. By gently lifting the sinus membrane and placing bone graft material underneath, we create adequate space and support for implant placement in areas that would otherwise lack sufficient bone structure.Ridge Augmentation
Ridge augmentation rebuilds lost bone width and height along the jawbone ridge, particularly useful when multiple adjacent teeth have been missing for extended periods. This comprehensive approach restores the natural contours needed for both functional and aesthetic implant placement.Block Graft
Block grafts involve harvesting bone from another area of your mouth or using specialized graft materials to build up severely deficient areas. While more complex than other grafting procedures, block grafts can successfully reconstruct even significantly compromised jawbone areas.The Bone Grafting Process and Recovery
Your bone grafting procedure begins with a thorough examination and planning, including detailed imaging to assess your current bone structure and determine the most appropriate grafting approach. We discuss your medical history, medications, and any factors that might affect healing to ensure optimal outcomes. During the procedure, we carefully prepare the treatment site and place the selected bone graft material with precision. The graft material acts as a scaffold, encouraging your natural bone to grow and integrate with the graft over time. We then secure the area with specialized membranes and sutures to protect the graft during initial healing. Recovery typically involves some swelling and mild discomfort for the first few days, which responds well to prescribed medications and cold compress applications. Most patients return to normal activities within a week, though complete bone integration takes several months. We provide detailed post-operative instructions and schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your healing progress.What to Expect During Healing From a Bone Graft Procedure
The bone grafting healing process occurs in predictable stages, though individual timelines vary based on the graft size, location, and your personal healing characteristics. Initial soft tissue healing typically completes within two weeks, while bone integration continues for three to six months, depending on the procedure complexity. During this healing period, several important guidelines support successful outcomes:- Avoid disturbing the surgical site with your tongue or fingers
- Follow prescribed medication schedules for pain management and infection prevention
- Maintain excellent oral hygiene while avoiding the graft site initially
- Eat soft foods and avoid chewing near the treatment area
- Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments for healing assessment
- Avoid smoking or tobacco use, which significantly impairs healing
