When a dental extraction has been performed, your body starts repairing and remodeling the bone in the area around the space left by the extracted tooth. If left for too long, this can result in there being insufficient bone to place dental implants in the future. In addition, the more bone that is lost, the more expensive it can become to rebuild the bone, and the treatments necessary to do so will take longer and become more invasive. To prevent this, Dr. David Carl Obenchain offers ridge preservation bone grafts that can strengthen the bone and prevent bone loss following an extraction.
What Is A Ridge Preservation Graft?
A ridge preservation graft is a method of protecting your jawbone against bone loss when a tooth is extracted. The body naturally begins a process known as resorption when a tooth is removed, slowly breaking down the bone material around the now-empty socket and spread them around the body. Four types of bone grafts are used in a ridge preservation procedure, also known as a “socket preservation.”
- Autograft –This form of graft uses bones from the body of the patient.
- Xenograft –Bovine or porcine collagen or bone is used for this graft.
- Allograft –Bone extracted from a cadaver is used in this graft.
- Alloplast –In this form of graft, synthetic materials are used to build the framework from the graft.
What Benefits Come With A Ridge Preservation Graft?
There are a number of benefits that come along with having a ridge preservation graft done. This procedure helps to preserve your bone following tooth loss. It also keeps soft tissue and bone from collapsing into the teeth sockets following the removal of a tooth. As a procedure that comes with low amounts of discomfort and is minimally invasive, it helps to ensure that your jawbone will have the necessary material to support future implants. By retaining the bone ridges aesthetic properties, it also helps to maintain a smile that is natural in appearance.
What Should I Expect During The Graft Process?
Bone grafts are accomplished by taking the graft material and placing it into the socket that used to contain the tooth. A small opening is made in the area the graft will be applied, and the material to be used will be layered into the recess left by the missing bone. This newly placed bone is protected by a collagen membrane that helps keep it stable and in place while it heals. This is a basic description of a ridge preservation graft, though the exact details may vary slightly depending on the location the graft is being placed.
When patients in the Gig Harbor, WA area are looking for a maxillofacial surgeon that has the education and skills necessary to perform a ridge preservation graft, Dr. David Carl Obenchain is often their first choice. If you want to discover more about this procedure, call us at 402-740-4961 or visit our offices at 6105 63rd Ave Ct NW in Gig Harbor, WA today.
