Bone Grafting in Richland, WA

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Tri-Cities Oral & Facial Surgery

When teeth are missing, or you have periodontal disease, it can cause your bone to resorb or deteriorate. This can affect the stability of your teeth as well as your facial structure. It can also make placing dental implants challenging due to poor bone quality or volume. Certain medical conditions and trauma to the face and mouth can also result in poor bone quality or volume.

Bone grafting is a very common procedure used to rebuild and regenerate bone to create a strong foundation for dental implants or dentures and preserve the shape of your face.

Bone grafting may also be recommended during an extraction procedure to maintain the maximal amount of bone to provide ideal conditions for an implant placed immediately or at a later time.

What to Expect During a Bone Graft

Dr. Smiley will begin by examining your teeth and gums and taking x-rays of your jaw to evaluate the scope of bone loss. Before dental implants can be placed, the bone needs to be thick enough and strong enough to securely hold them. He will review your treatment options and create a customized treatment plan to fit your needs, including discussing sedation to mitigate any pain or discomfort.

Bone grafting can be done using several types of materials:

  • Autograft: Your own bone is harvested and used.
  • Allograft: Bone from a human tissue bank is used.
  • Xenograft: Bone from an animal tissue bank is used.
  • Alloplast: Synthetic material is used.

Before surgery, the area will be numbed, and any sedation indicated will be administered. Then, Dr. Smiley will make an incision in the gum to expose the bone and place the bone grafting material. This forms a natural scaffolding for the new bone growth to form. The gums are sutured closed, completely covering the bone graft to protect it. Once the procedure is over, and you are alert, you can go home to rest and recover. You will be given post-op instructions before surgery, but do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have before you leave.

Antibiotics are given after surgery to prevent the chance of your bone graft becoming infected.

Comfort and Recovery After Your Treatment

You should not feel any pain during or immediately after surgery due to the anesthetic. Once it wears off, it is normal to experience some soreness or mild swelling. Many patients find an over-the-counter pain reliever is enough to manage any discomfort. You should plan to take it easy for the rest of the day to allow the site to begin healing.

Many Tri-Cities patients feel well enough to return to work within a day or two. Make sure you are taking any antibiotics as prescribed to help prevent infection. Eating softer foods is recommended for the first week as the incision heals, but then you can return to your normal diet, being cautious not to eat anything too hard or sharp.

It will take 3-6 months for the bone to regenerate, and during this time, Dr. Smiley will follow up with you to ensure everything is healing correctly. There is no way to speed bone growth, so patience is essential, but you can continue to go about your normal routine.

The Bone Grafting Results

While it can take time for the bone to grow and mature after a bone graft, it is a safe and predictable process that generates greater quality and quantity of bone. Once the graft has healed, you can proceed with the dental implant process or the next step in your treatment. If you have experienced bone loss from missing or diseased teeth, contact Tri-Cities Oral & Facial Surgery at (509) 802-6026 to see if bone grafting is the right option for you.

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Tri-Cities Oral & Facial Surgery Dental Implants & Wisdom Teeth in Richland, WA

Richland | Pasco | Kennewick

Tri-Cities Oral & Facial Surgery is proud to serve patients throughout Richland, Pasco and Kennewick, WA and surrounding areas. We offer a wide range of oral surgery services including dental implants, wisdom teeth removal, tooth extractions, and bone grafting, as well as sedation options to enhance your safety and comfort. Centrally located near Pasco and Kennewick, WA, we are the convenient practice to visit for your wisdom teeth, dental implant and other oral surgery needs.