TREATMENT

Bone Augmentation and Bone Grafting

What is a Bone Augmentation?

Bone augmentation, also referred to as bone grafting, is a procedure typically needed when the current bone mass of your jaw is not suitable to successfully incorporate dental implants. Luckily, in this day and age, our doctors are able to grow bone where it is needed. When bone mass is too thin or soft to keep an implant in place, a bone augmentation will help so the bone can fuse to the dental implant and keep it secure. If a dental implant is placed in the jaw where bone structure is not sufficient, the likelihood of an implant failing increases.


Reasons For Bone Augmentation

The number one reason for bone augmentation surgery is bone loss. The bone in your jaw maintains its health through the constant motion and pressure of chewing. Because of this, a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth that are left unreplaced will cause the bone in your jaw to break down and resorb. Even if a tooth has only been missing for one year, 25% of the bone has already been lost within that short time. To avoid bone loss, replacing the lost natural tooth with an immediate dental implant is recommended. Other causes of bone loss that are not as common, include misaligned teeth, gum disease, infection, and tumors in the face.


What To Expect

 

Length of Procedure

Bone augmentation procedures typically take less than 30 minutes. You can expect to be in our office 1.5 to 2 hours which accounts for consultation, procedure and in-office recovery time.

Before Your Appointment


Tips For A Speedy Recovery

 

After Your Procedure

After your procedure, you may notice some of the bone particulates working their way out of the socket. This may feel “gritty” in the mouth. This is completely normal and no cause for concern. In some cases, a membrane placed over the socket will come loose after a couple of weeks; this is also no cause for concern. We will remove the membrane as needed at your follow up appointment. As the bone augmentation site heals, you will come in for follow-up appointments with your oral surgeon every few weeks to ensure the bone is healing properly. Once completely healed, you will be scheduled for your dental implant to be placed.

Recovery Instructions

  • After your procedure, a nurse will take you to one of our state-of-the-art recovery rooms. Our rooms are equipped with high-tech monitoring to ensure your safety.
  • We will inform your driver when you are in recovery and show them to your room to go over recovery instructions.
  • Your nurse will stay to answer any other questions you may have before leaving our office and will send printed recovery instructions home with you for your convenience.
  • When you get home, we recommend a lot of rest, icing and to begin taking your pain medication before existing numbness wears off.
  • We will send you home with a recovery kit that includes extra gauze and gloves for bleeding.
  • Slight to severe tingling of the lip, chin and tongue is normal and will be temporary.
  • Take off work/school the day of your procedure, as well as the following day. You may want to take off more days depending on how you feel.
  • After your procedure, enjoy a cup of gourmet ice cream on us!

Recover with Ease

Your procedure is over, now what? Watch as we review everything the nurses covered in your post-op recovery. This video is full of basic recovery instructions and tips to help you achieve a speedy recovery.


 

We're Here To Help

Whether you have questions about a bone augmentation or any other procedure, we're here to help. 

Give us a call at 402.327.9400 where our specialists are happy to help you with any of your oral surgery needs.

Did You Know?

Bone augmentation may be necessary if your jaw is currently lacking adequate bone mass to successfully hold a dental implant.

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