Bone Grafting in Washington, D.C.

The strength of your jawbone is important to your total dental health. With a weakened jawbone from missing teeth or physical trauma, you may need to get 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 Ingber Dental, this surgery is performed to prepare your jawbone for subsequent dental implant surgery to replace weak or missing teeth. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kenneth Ingber and his skilled dental team at our office in Washington, D.C. to learn more about surgical bone grafts.

Sometimes when a tooth is pulled, the remaining socket and the bone surrounding it breaks or does not heal properly. This can make a deformity of the gums and/or an area of low density in the jawbone. When this occurs, ridge augmentation can be performed. Also known as vertical or horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation, this procedure uses bone grafts to restore the alveolar ridge, which is the area along the roots of the teeth. The augmentation procedure will build the bone back up to its original height and width in order to prepare your mouth for a dental implant. Ridge augmentation may also be performed for cosmetic reasons to correct the overall look of misshapen gums. At Ingber Dental in Washington, D.C., ridge augmentation can be performed with multiple bone graft options. Schedule a consultation to learn more about ridge augmentation, dental implants, and other approaches to restore your mouth.

A ridge preservation procedure can help maintain the bone and gum tissue after a tooth extraction. This procedure has many benefits, including how it prepares your jawbone for a dental implant without the need for graft surgery. It can also help to maintain the natural look of your smile after extraction. Immediately following a tooth extraction, a ridge preservation procedure uses a specialized bone grafting product to fill the empty socket. This filling material can help to promote the regrowth of the socket. If you are needing a tooth extraction procedure, contact Ingber Dental in Washington, D.C. to learn more about ridge preservation and how it can be useful to you.

A weakened jawbone may be caused by certain oral conditions, like 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 either untreated or replaced with removable dentures or a cemented bridge. A bone graft builds up the 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 implant and your natural teeth to give you a healthier mouth.

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 shin, hip, or chin, 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 that harvests bone from another person. A xenograft is a bone graft from an animal, usually a cow. A synthetic bone graft may also be used, known as an alloplast. At your consultation, we 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, the areas being treated will be prepared and an incision will be made 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 is critical to follow a proper home oral care routine with brushing and flossing along with any recommended products. Antibiotics or pain medication may be prescribed for any discomfort and inflammation after the graft. You may have additional appointments at Ingber Dental for progress checks and to determine when you are ready for the dental implant process.

We will contact your insurance company to understand your coverage and personal costs, but if it is deemed medically necessary, some of the expenses for the procedure are usually covered. During your consultation, our financial team can be able to estimate your costs, whether you have insurance or not, and explain payments we accept, including medical financing.

Build up your jawbone so it can support both dental implants and your natural teeth with bone graft surgery at Ingber Dental. In your consultation, you can get more information about your options for graft material and get a unique treatment plan that gives you a stronger jawbone. Contact us in Washington, D.C. to schedule your appointment.