The Longer You Wait After Losing a Tooth, the More Important a Bone Graft Becomes

Studies have shown that a person feels better and more confident when they have a nice smile. A person may not feel like smiling as much if missing one or more teeth.   Missing teeth can be replaced with realistic-looking teeth supported by a dental implant(s). That’s why many people who have lost teeth, whether due to injury, disease or other factors opt for dental implants. But time is of the essence.

If you’re putting off dental implants, be aware that the longer you wait, the more likely it is that you’ll need to have a bone graft.  As with many things in life, procrastination doesn’t pay off when it comes to dental and periodontal care.  Here’s why you need to schedule that implant surgery sooner, rather than later.

The basics of dental implants

Dental implants are made of titanium.  They are screwed into your jawbone replacing your tooth “root.” Once the implant has had time to connect to your jawbone, a crown restoration is then fastened to an adjoining piece (an abutment) and inserted into the implant, creating a nearly indistinguishable dental restoration – they’re designed to look just like your real teeth, and function the same way, too.

Dental implants are different than dentures in that you don’t take them out.  In fact, you treat them as you would normal, natural teeth. They are one of the best solutions for regaining your smile if you’ve lost a tooth or need to have one removed.  Sometimes, however, you’ll need a bone graft before you can start enjoying the benefits of dental implants.

When and why do you need a bone graft?

Your jawbone was made to function with teeth.  When teeth are lost the jawbone will shrink if it’s not supporting a tooth.  Teeth that are lost due to dental infection can cause additional bone loss.  And, the longer you wait to get an implant, the more likely your bone will shrink to the point that you will need a bone graft to house the dental implant.

Here’s how bone grafts work

Your periodontist will make a small incision in your gums to access your jawbone.  A bone graft will be placed to repair the deficiency in the jawbone.  Unfortunately, in many cases, they won’t be able to proceed with the rest of the implant placement just yet. The bone has to regrow enough to support the implant before the implant can be placed.  In some patients, this can take months. However, if you only need minor bone grafting, the implant may be placed in the same surgery – it all depends on the condition of your jawbone and how severe the damage is.

Why you shouldn’t wait

There are many reasons people put off dental implant surgery.  Finances and fear are two common ones.  However, the longer you wait, the more likely it is that you’ll need multiple surgeries and will have to wait an extended period of time before your smile is completely restored.  Talk to your dentist or periodontist about whether they offer payment plans, sedation and other tools that can help you get the care you need as soon as possible.

At Levenson Periodontal Associates, we’re happy to talk through the finer points of bone grafts with our patients, to make sure they understand all aspects and phases of treatment prior to placing dental implants.