What to Expect After Dental Bone Graft?

A dental bone graft is a procedure where bone is placed at the site of the implant to create a thicker area to support it. Implants should be supported by bone with enough density and thickness to give long-term and reliable support for the dental restoration procedure. Although they are usually used, bone grafts are not always necessary for dental implants. rnTo determine the need for dental bone graft, the oral surgeon will first examine your jawbone. Looking into its thickness, softness and its overall sufficiently to serve as foundation for the dental implant. If there is not enough bone, the implant can fail. There are four main kinds of bone grafts: little, medium big and sinus lift. The choice will depend on the amount of bone needed for the procedure.rnRead on to learn what you can expect after a dental bone graft procedure. rnPost-Operative Dental Bone Graft rnRegardless of the number of stages you went through for your dental implant procedure, expect some swelling on your gums and even your face, including bruising in your gums and skin, minimal bleeding, discomfort and pain. All these is an indication that your body is healing itself, and will require time to do so. Your dentist can prescribe antibiotics to prevent infections and other medications to help with the pain. Be sure to take the medications as directed and follow their post-op instructions.rnDo not use any alternative remedies or treatments without discussing them first with your dentist. These might cause adverse reactions that you are unaware of. If you experience or feel any signs that seem excessive or are concerning to you, immediately contact get your dentist for advice. They might suggest some dosage increase or give you more coping tips.rnRecovery from Dental Bone Graft rnRecovery time varies depending on the person; it can take anywhere from a couple of months to more than a year. Other factors affecting recovery time include the kind of bone graft procedure performed, the length of time to complete osseointegration, and the methods used. Based on your care, your dentist should be able to give you a precise timeline. About 95 percent of procedures are successful, but it is still important to exercise caution at every step of the process.rnYour dentist can ask you to go on a soft diet to prevent unnecessary pressure on the surgical sites. Smoking right after the surgery is strongly discouraged as well, as the tobacco smoke can disrupt the healing process, causing the graft to heal slowly or even fail. Also, uncontrolled diabetes and other systemic health issues can negatively affect the healing process. Below are some ways to take care of your bone graft and dental implant along with the rest of your natural teeth. • Regularly brush, floss and rinse using a non-alcoholic mouthwash. There are special tools that can help you reach areas that a toothbrush or dental floss cannot. • See your dentist at least every six months. This helps ensure that your graft or implant is healing well and will perform properly. • Avoid hard foods like hard candy and ice as these can damage the implant and break the crown. • Avoid tobacco and excessive caffeine because they can stain both your natural and artificial teeth.rnThe cost of a dental bone graft varies depending on the source and amount of bone needed. Pricing can also be affected if your dentist is a specialist or not. Usually, a general dentist can do the grafting and implanting procedure, but a dental specialists like an oral surgeon, prosthodontist or periodontist might be needed in particularly complex cases. This might mean an increase in treatment costs, but it should be well worth their additional skill.