Whether you’re suffering from a traumatic dental injury or tooth decay, sometimes the best way to preserve your oral health is to perform a tooth extraction. However, removing a tooth can also negatively impact a patient’s oral health in other ways. Bone grafting can be an excellent solution that helps protect against deterioration and preserves a patient’s natural smile.
At Union City Oral Surgery Group, we know the importance of a good smile, and our oral surgeons are skilled at helping our patients get their smiles back. We pride ourselves in our patient-centered approach that gives our patients the necessary support and tools to make informed decisions that can greatly improve their quality of life. Contact our office today to learn more about our oral surgical services.
Is a Bone Graft Necessary After a Tooth Extraction?
A bone graft is not always necessary after a tooth extraction procedure. However, it can help improve your chances of a successful tooth replacement procedure. A dentist may recommend a dental implant to replace the extracted tooth, but for the implant to be securely placed, it needs a strong foundation. Dental implants require enough bone tissue to fuse with, and without the bone graft, it may not have enough bone to complete the fusion process.
While a bone graft isn’t necessary after a tooth extraction, a bone graft procedure known as ridge preservation graft is performed to prevent negative outcomes and health concerns that result from having a tooth extracted. The procedure keeps the jawbone walls from caving in, ensuring there’s a strong foundation for future procedures such as dental implants.
Why Would You Need a Bone Graft?
On the surface, it’s difficult to see, but every part of a smile plays a critical role in preserving someone’s oral health. Under the surface, tooth roots provide valuable stimulation to the jawbone, which maintains the bite’s position. Holding the position of a bite is key in order to be pain-free and maintain natural functionality. It ensures that a person can chew, speak, and use their mouth properly.
When teeth are missing, the jawbone loses the stimulation that keeps it strong and healthy. Combining tooth loss with an inability to bite and chew, the jawbone starts to deteriorate and shrink. This deterioration opens the door to numerous other oral health concerns that could require more extensive treatment, including:
- Distortion of facial features
- Painful chewing
- Misaligned, loosened, or drifting teeth
- Collapsed facial profile
- Wrinkled skin around the mouth
- Limited lip support
- Difficulty speaking
- Facial and jaw pain
- Headaches
Bone grafting reinforces the structural integrity of the jawbone and creates a solid foundation for future treatment.
Contact Our Skilled and Experienced Oral Surgeons Today
For some patients, the area around the extraction will heal on its own without issues, while at other times, the patient requires a bone graft at the same time as the extraction. The way that a procedure goes depends on the individual patient. Therefore, it’s important to always center the patient’s oral history and their desire at the center of any treatment plan.
At Union City Oral Surgery Group, we are the top choice for oral surgical procedures because of our dedication and commitment to providing our patients with the best of the best. Our state-of-the-art equipment and methodology ensure that our patients get the help they need and are able to preserve their natural smiles. Find unmatched oral care today by calling us at (201) 601-9262, or ask for more information by completing our contact form.
