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 had root canals that weren't working, so they decided to put dental implants in instead. Dr. Lewis was fantastic. He answered all my questions, and I think he did a great job in this procedure. They went in and extracted a tooth that went bad and did a bone graft and an implant. My recovery is absolutely fine. I didn't have any swelling or any discomfort whatsoever. The staff was outstanding. It made me feel really good. We seemed like we were just all family. They just made me feel real comfortable in the procedure. I would definitely recommend MOSA Oral Surgery to anybody."
"I came to Dr. Lewis — to MOSA (Dr. Lewis was the doctor) — for an extraction, bone graft, and dental implant. The team was very experienced, very courteous, and they were well-prepared to help the doctor. Dr. Lewis is very good at what he does, and I was very pleased with his work. Everything went smoothly as far as I’m concerned. I would recommend Dr. Lewis for others that I know, and if I’m asked, I will give his name and the practice. "
"I came to MOSA to have extractions, and bone grafts, and implants. I really like MOSA because the people are very friendly, they have great personalities, and make me feel that I’m very safe. Dr. Lewis is fabulous when it comes to making a patient feel comfortable. He’s enjoyable to talk to, he cares about his patients, and he wants to be sure that everything is done perfectly. I would highly recommend MOSA. I’ve had excellent service. I have come out of every treatment here with flying colors, and it’s been a good experience."
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.