Treatment for Bone Loss
At MOSA Oral Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery, we believe that every patient deserves the opportunity to restore their oral health and smile. Bone grafting now allows us to do this more effectively than ever before. A bone graft is commonly used to restore missing bone in the jaw, which can occur from missing teeth, genetic defects, facial injuries, and other oral health problems. Patients once told that they couldn’t replace missing teeth due to a lack of jaw bone height or width can now have dental implants and other restorations placed following a bone grafting procedure.
Dr. Michael Lewis, Dr. Ryan Lloyd, and Dr. Andre LaMothe are experts in restoring the jaw bone and facial skeleton and provide a variety of bone grafting options at their offices in Monterey, CA, Salinas, CA, and Santa Cruz, CA. Our oral surgeons use 3D CT imaging to measure the amount of bone available and recommend the best treatment to restore oral function.
Types of Bone Grafting Procedures
At MOSA Oral Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery, there are many bone grafting treatments available to patients. We’ve outlined below some of the most commonly performed procedures in our practice. The recommended grafting technique often depends on the condition of the existing bone and the restorative goals of each patient.
Socket Preservation: This grafting technique is used to maintain the jaw bone following the loss or extraction of a tooth. The oral surgeon places the bone graft directly into the empty tooth socket, preserving the shape of the jaw bone for future restoration. Socket preservation is a fantastic treatment option for patients who wish to replace their missing tooth with an implant at a future date, and the surgeon can often place the graft at the same time that the oral surgeon removes the tooth.
Ridge Expansion: It is not uncommon for patients to have a jaw bone that is too thin for tooth replacement. Our surgeons often recommend ridge expansion when the jaw is lacking the width necessary to anchor an implant successfully. This procedure often provides an aesthetic benefit, as it restores the natural contour of the gum and jaw line.
Sinus Lift: The sinuses rest just behind the cheeks and above your upper teeth. When patients need dental implants placed within their upper arch of teeth, sometimes the bone which separates the mouth from the sinus cavity is too thin to support implant placement. Your oral surgeon can perform a sinus lift procedure to correct this problem. During the treatment, your surgeon will carefully enter the sinus cavity and lift the sinus membrane. Bone graft material is then placed in the sinus to provide adequate space for the dental implant.
When undergoing a grafting procedure, we may use bone from a tissue bank, or we may use the patient’s bone that we usually take from another area of the jaw.
Types of Anesthesia
Selecting the right anesthesia option for treatment is an important decision, so we keep patients informed of their options. Below, we have listed the types of anesthesia most commonly used in oral surgery.
Bone Grafting and Dental Implants
There must be enough bone available for the implants to integrate with the jaw to restore teeth with dental implants successfully. When a tooth or teeth have been missing for an extended period, the jaw bone surrounding the missing tooth site may recede from a lack of stimulation. If this is the case, bone grafting may be necessary to restore the jaw bone and allow for the secure placement of dental implants.
Our state-of-the-art practice uses PRGF to stimulate healing and shorten post-surgical pain and swelling.
Hear From Bone Grafting Patients
These patients can tell you about their firsthand experience undergoing bone grafting at our office.
Reviews From Our Bone Grafting Patients
"I’ve come to Dr. Lewis to have bone grafts, extractions, and dental implants. Dr. Lewis is the first person I went to, and I’ve liked him ever since. I’ve come four different times for four different procedures. The staff’s really nice. They always make you feel welcome, and Dr. Lewis always personally checks on you. I like him because he comes in and tells you exactly what you’re going to do, and what’s going to happen step by step. He always checks on me personally after each procedure. I would recommend Dr. Lewis. My experience with Dr. Lewis would be five stars. "
"I first came to MOSA Oral Surgery several years ago to have some dental implants and bone grafting and extractions. Everyone was very pleasant and kind and made me feel right at home and very comfortable being here. All of the procedures I’ve had done here have been very smooth. I just feel very at ease with Dr. Lewis. I’m very comfortable here, and the staff and everyone is just very friendly and helpful. If any of my friends in Salinas or Seaside needed an implant, I would definitely recommend them to MOSA Oral Surgery here in Monterey. "
"I came here two years ago to see Dr. Lloyd to get two dental implants put in and a bone graft in my lower left jaw. I was born missing these two teeth, and I had a partial for about 20 years, and I finally got tired of the partial, and I finally gave in to putting implants in and having a permanent tooth solution. I met Dr. Lloyd, and we hit it off, and I felt very comfortable. The people I met here, and the job they’ve done, things worked out just right. My procedures have gone extremely well, and they’ve been very smooth. If any of my friends in Marina needed dental implants, I would for sure tell them to come here. "
The Central Coast’s Premier Oral Surgery Practice
MOSA Oral Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery proudly serves Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz, and the surrounding communities by providing quality oral surgery services that can change lives. Whether you need a simple extraction or a complex procedure, we are ready to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. We invite you to take the first step toward enhanced oral health and contact our office to schedule a consultation today.