Bone Grafting in Melbourne, FL

The strength of your jawbone is vital to your overall dental health because your jawbone is what holds your teeth in place. With a weakened jawbone from missing teeth or physical trauma, you may require a bone graft so the jaw can securely hold both your natural teeth and dental implants. Bone grafting helps to reinforce and rebuild your jawbone until it is stable enough to support a dental implant. At our practice, Sangiv I. Patel, D.D.S., PA, this surgery is performed to prepare your jawbone for subsequent dental implant surgery to replace weak or missing teeth. Schedule a consultation with experienced dentist Dr. Sangiv I. Patel at his office in Melbourne, FL to learn more about surgical bone grafts.

A weakened jawbone may be caused by certain oral conditions, such as gum disease, or if you experienced a physical trauma to your face. The jawbone may begin to atrophy if a tooth was missing and it was untreated, replaced with removable dentures, or replaced with a cemented bridge. A bone graft builds up the inadequate jaw and prepares you for a dental implant; however, you will need to be patient with the process. Some procedures can take months to complete, but you will have a stronger jaw that will support your dental implants and your natural teeth, giving you a healthier mouth and making the time spent worthwhile.

The exact process of bone grafting surgery will vary based on the graft source and the amount of grafting being done. Your bone graft may be removed from your own body from areas, like the chin, shin, or hip, which is called an autograft. This may be performed in our office with local anesthesia and sedation, or in an accredited surgical facility under general anesthesia. Other graft methods include: an allograft, which harvests bone from another person, an axenograft, which is a bone graft from an animal, usually a cow, and an alloplast, which is synthetic bone. At your consultation, Dr. Patel will go over your options for bone grafts and help you select the best method for your needs.

Once the graft is ready to be placed, Dr. Patel will prepare the areas being treated and make an incision in the gums to reveal the jawbone. The bone graft will be attached to the bone with collagen and proteins that stimulate growth in the graft. The incision will be closed with sutures and the area will be cleaned.

Over the next six or more months, the graft will heal into your jawbone (osseointegration). During this time, it's critical to follow a proper home oral care routine with brushing and flossing, along with any other products recommended by Dr. Patel. He may prescribe antibiotics or pain medication for any discomfort and inflammation after the graft. You may have additional appointments scheduled at our Melbourne, FL office for progress checks and to determine when you are ready for the dental implant process.

We will contact your insurance company to verify your coverage and personal costs. If the procedure is deemed medically necessary, some of the expenses for the procedure are usually covered. During your consultation with Dr. Patel, he can estimate your costs whether you have dental insurance or not. We will tell you what payments we accept and may be able to assist you in securing medical financing if necessary.

Strengthen your jawbone so it can support both dental implants and your natural teeth with bone graft surgery at Dr. Patel's private practice, Sangiv I. Patel, D.D.S., PA. In your meeting with experienced dentist Dr. Patel, you can get more information about your options for graft material and get a unique treatment plan that will give you a stronger jawbone. Contact us in Melbourne, FL to schedule your appointment.