Dental bone graft healing pictures the result of the procedure. It signifies that the bone grafting procedure is a success. But how can we know if the dental bone graft is healing? Additionally, how long will it take to recover? These are the questions that we can answer through this article. Meanwhile, it is normal to feel anxious before a dental surgery takes place. Patients feel uneasy as the schedule of surgery approaches.
Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about this. Your dentist knows how to address dental anxiety. During your consultation, they would already recommend options for your comfort during dental bone graft procedures. You can also ask the dentists from St. Leonards Dental if you need more guidance.
What is Dental Bone Grafting?
A dentist may require dental bone grafting for patients who choose dental implants. Meanwhile, dental implants are typical options to replace missing teeth. Patients will need a bone graft if they do not have sufficient bones to support the dental implant.
Bone grafts are fillers and scaffolds that help with bone formation and promote wound healing. A bone graft material can come from another part of the patient’s body, an artificial, synthetic, or natural substitute. In effect, the bone tissue can regenerate and form into a new bone.
Bone Grafts and Dental Implants
A dental implant is an excellent option to replace missing teeth. In actuality, tooth loss can affect oral functions, such as chewing. Additionally, it can even affect the facial structure, including the jaw. But why do we even experience tooth loss? The reasons are below.
- cavities
- gum disease (periodontal disease)
- injury or trauma
- other chronic diseases
- poor oral habits
These reasons can make you susceptible to tooth loss. In this case, a dental implant can help you. However, it would be best to know all the essential details about this treatment option. One of the things your surgeon must let you know is about the possibility of needing a bone graft.
In this case, we can say that bone grafts and dental implants may work together to improve a patient’s smile. As a patient, are you starting to see the bigger picture for this procedure? Well, we got more information for you. Let’s keep going.
Dental Bone Graft Healing
A picture can serve as your reference to see whether your bone graft is healing or not. The recovery period might take several months to heal completely. During this period, the graft will create a new and strong bone.
It will be enough to keep the implants stable and secured. Indeed, excellent support for a dental implant. In actuality, the dentist may perform a minor bone graft and implant surgery in one appointment.
However, that will still depend on actual scenarios. A successful bone graft will prepare your jaw and gum tissue in receiving the implants. However, we can’t remove the possibility of failure. The graft has contributing factors that can make it fail in the end.
Signs That Your Grafts Fail
Failure is just around the corner once something within the surgery or during the recovery period has gone wrong. One of the causes of failure is an underlying infection, which affects the success rate of the surgery.
For this reason, it would be best for the patient to observe the mouth while under-recovery. Here are the symptoms you have to keep an eye on for a few days after the surgery.
- First and foremost, you can observe severe drainage from the surgical area.
- Secondly, the swelling of the affected area does not subside even after a few days already.
- Additionally, the redness of the area does not dissipate.
- It is also possible to experience fever.
- Lastly, you are most likely to have a bad taste in your mouth.
If you already noticed any of these signs, it would be best to call your dentist or surgeon. It is essential to let them know as these complications can become severe. So, head on to your dentist’s office and seek help from them.
Proper Care After Graft Surgery
Generally speaking, to prevent a particular process from failing, it is essential to follow the aftercare instructions. This way, the affected area will heal properly and remain healthy. Here are the care instructions that you may need to practice after the surgery.
The dentist will let the patient take pain medication hours after the operation. While recovering, the patient has to take these according to prescription.- Bleeding and swelling are possible to occur. A teabag or clean gauze can help control bleeding when placed over the treatment site. As for the swelling, an ice pack can help minimize it and numb the pain as well.
- Another vital thing to do is to practice proper oral hygiene. Initially, you cannot brush or floss the affected area. Meanwhile, gentle brushing on the surrounding teeth is necessary.
- There is also a need to follow diet restrictions. This way, you can ensure a full and healthy recovery.
- You will also need to refrain from smoking.
- Moreover, you also need to minimize physical activity for the first few days.
- Lastly, the patient should know when to call the surgeon.
Conclusion
A dental implant is an excellent option to restore tooth loss. It functions and looks like natural teeth inside the mouth. No one will notice that you have them when you smile. So, contact or visit your dentist’s office if you want to undergo any dental services. Sooner or later, your smile in the picture will be free of lost teeth.
