When you suffer from tooth loss, dental implants can offer a full smile again. But before we proceed, we may need to strengthen the weakening foundations of your smile. In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa, CA, oral and maxillofacial surgeons talk about the benefits of jawbone grafting and sinus lift procedures.
How Tooth Loss Weakens Your Jaw
Once you begin to lose your natural teeth, complications can cascade until you develop additional missing teeth and an older appearance. This is because the body will suspend the flow of key nutrients to the jaw. Without these doses of calcium and phosphorus, the jaw itself begins to break down, causing an older appearance and further tooth loss. This could complicate your ability to receive dental implants, as there simply isn’t enough structure to support them. But we can help correct this and strengthen the foundations of your new smile, so you can receive tooth replacements designed to last decades or even a lifetime!
Jawbone Grafting
With jawbone grafting, also known as ridge augmentation, we will provide structure to the lower jaw to strengthen it. This could include bone tissues taken from other parts of your body, such as your hip, knee, or rear jaw. We could also use unique synthetic sources or donor tissues. The body will accept this as new bone structure and stimulate the growth of jawbone tissue, so they are strengthened. When the area heals, we can insert dental implants, which further fortifies the area, so you maintain your youthful features and enjoy long-lasting tooth replacement.
Sinus Lift
What about the upper jaw? If you have lost mass and density in your upper jaw, we could conduct a sinus lift, which essentially raises the sinus floor to uncover new structures. We can then insert dental implants in these areas, which strengthens them and enables your new teeth to last, looking and functioning like natural ones.
Our team could discuss options like All-On-Four, which can support implant dentures with only four posts per arch, and may be able to secure a new smile if you’ve lost structure without the need for grafting or sinus lifts. Our team will examine your smile and discuss the best options for you, deciding whether you can receive fixed dentures with or without the need for grafting or sinus lifts. If you have any questions about how we fortify your jaw and provide a new smile, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Boosting Your Smile’s Foundation?
We want to help you enjoy a strong and full smile, one ready to receive dental implants. To learn more about how we strengthen smiles before placing dental implants, then schedule a consultation by calling Santa Rosa Oral Surgery in Santa Rosa, CA, today at 707-545-4625.