Get Ready For Dental Implants
In order to qualify for dental implants, patients need a strong jawbone and healthy gums. But if you’ve lived with missing teeth for a long time, you’re likely to suffer from one of these issues. Thankfully, this doesn’t mean you’re not a candidate for implants.
At Central Texas Dental Care, we offer a full range of supplemental treatments to prepare you for implant placement. Explore our guide to learn about these procedures and how they can help you qualify for dental implants.
Bone Grafting
When you lose a tooth, that area of your jawbone loses its source of stimulation. As a result, the bone will begin to deteriorate and lose strength. This type of bone loss is common in patients who previously replaced missing teeth with dentures or a dental bridge.
Bone grafting can restore your lost tissue and ensure that your jaw has the strength to support implants. To perform this treatment, one of our dentists will take healthy bone tissue from a donor source and graft it to the deficient areas of your jaw. This stimulates bone growth and creates a strong foundation for implants.
Ridge Modification
For some patients who experience bone loss, the jawbone thins on the alveolar crest, making it too narrow for dental implant placement. Similar to bone grafting, ridge modification involves strengthening the deteriorated area with healthy bone tissue from a donor source.
Sinus Augmentation
If you’re missing teeth in your upper jawbone, the resulting bone loss can increase the size of your sinus cavity and interfere with implant placement. Sinus augmentation is another variation of bone grafting that adds to the existing tissue in your upper arch, helping you become a candidate for implants.
Gum Disease Treatment
To ensure that your implant procedure is successful, it’s crucial to have healthy gums. If you have any symptoms of gum disease, we’ll use the LANAP® protocol to eliminate your infection. This procedure uses a specialized laser called the PerioLase® MVP-7™ to vaporize bacteria in your gums without harming any of your healthy tissue.
Best of all, LANAP treatment is pain-free and allows you to heal quickly. Unlike traditional surgery, you won’t have to deal with stitches or bleeding. LANAP also offers more predictable results, since the laser can target bacteria with unmatched precision.
Visit Central Texas Dental Care For Implants
If you have missing teeth, dental implants are the only permanent solution for your smile. During your first visit, one of our dentists will examine your teeth, gums, and jawbone to determine if you need any supplemental treatments to get ready for implants.
Call our office in Hewitt at 254-203-7405 and schedule an initial consultation today.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a supplemental procedure necessary?
Supplemental procedures are used to prepare the teeth, gums, and jawbone for dental implant placement, ensuring quality results. Patients who suffer from tooth loss, gum disease, or have worn dentures for a long time typically don’t have enough bone density to support an implant. Thankfully, our Hewitt dentists can help you become an ideal candidate for dental implants with a supplemental procedure.
Will insurance pay for my supplemental procedure?
Many insurance providers will cover a portion of the cost of supplemental procedures, but some don’t cover preexisting conditions. We strongly recommend that you contact your insurance provider to get a detailed understanding of your coverage. If you’d like, a member of our staff can contact them for you to ensure you receive the maximum benefits possible.
How long after a bone graft can I eat?
During a bone graft procedure, the doctor will administer a local anesthetic. We recommend waiting until the effects of the numbing agent have worn off completely before attempting to eat. This reduces the risk of accidentally biting your tongue or cheeks and damaging the surgical site.
For 24 hours after the procedure, avoid using straws and consuming very hot or cold food and drinks. Foods like yogurt and applesauce are the best post-op diet, while you should avoid spicy or chewy meals.
Is a bone graft procedure painful?
Due to the local anesthetic, the bone graft procedure is painless. Patients frequently drift off or don’t entirely recall the procedure. Any pain you may experience after the bone graft can be alleviated with a cold compress and over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen. Be sure to follow any aftercare instructions that Dr. Sager provides as well for a smooth recovery.
If you experience continued pain for an extended amount of time after the procedure, contact our office at (254)-203-7405, and we’ll work with you to resolve any issues.
When is a sinus augmentation required?
Sinus augmentation, also known as a sinus lift, boosts bone density inside the pocket of your jaw behind your molars and your maxillary sinus. There are multiple reasons a sinus lift may be required, such as:
- Inadequate bone density
- Missing back teeth or molars
- Bone deterioration or significant decay
- Increased sinus cavity size