SPOTLIGHT ON CORRECTIVE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR JAWBONE ISSUES
Your jaw plays an important role in your appearance and the health and function of your mouth. If your jaw requires corrective treatment, then there are several procedures that your dentist near Belmont may recommend.
Ridge Modification
Trauma and periodontal disease can damage the jawbone and lead to deformities. Also, birth defects can result in an indentation in the jaw that is unattractive and makes treatment with dental implants more challenging. Ridge modification treatments are used to address jaw deformities caused by trauma, periodontal disease, and birth defects. In this type of procedure, the dentist carefully pulls the gums from the bone to expose the defect, which is then filled with a synthetic product or bone graft material. Then, the gums are sutured closed. Once patients heal, they experience a more attractive looking jaw and are a better candidate for dental implants.
Sinus Augmentation
For patients who want a dental implant and have inadequate bone density or quality in the area, a sinus augmentation can be performed. The purpose of a sinus augmentation is to help ensure that the dental implant will firmly attach to the bone. This procedure can elevate the sinus floor and allow new bone to form if the jaw has been damaged by trauma or bone loss. Typically, the dentist creates a small incision in the bone, adds grafting material, and sutures the site closed.
Bone Grafts
A bone graft treatment is used to thicken a patient’s jawbone. This process may be necessary for several reasons, but dentists commonly perform this procedure to improve a patient’s chances of successful dental implant treatment. Also, bone grafting can be used to restore deformities in the jaw, fill areas in the jaw, elevate the sinus floor, or promote the successful repositioning of a nerve. The material used to perform a bone graft can be harvested from another area of the body, such as the lower jaw or the pelvis. The bone grafting material can also be a synthetic, manufactured product.
