Bone Grafting Healing Stages
Bone grafting is a dental procedure done to replace the bone loss in your jaw, which anchors your teeth. The options of bone grafting can be one or more than one. Dental surgeries such as sinus or ridge augmentation may also require bone growth in the upper jaw.
A dental bone graft adds both density and volume to your jaw in areas with bone loss. The graft material may be autogenous, removed from your own body, or bought from a human tissue bank, allograft, or animal tissue xenograft. In other instances, the material used may be synthetic, alloplastic.
If you miss some teeth or bone in your upper jaw, the bone grafts in Salem, MA, will help stimulate the growth of the bone needed to shape your jaw for preparing it for dental implants. The implants are then used to replace missing teeth.
Dental bone grafting is common and can be performed by our dentist or specialists, such as an oral dentist or a periodontist.
The bone graft teeth enables tissue growth by holding the space so that your own body can do the repairing work. Thus, a dental bone graft is like a scaffold that allows the growth and regeneration of your bone.
Here are some of the healing stages of your dental bone graft.
Six Healing Stages of Dental Bone Grafting
The healing stages experienced after a bone grafting dental procedure includes:
- Stitches
You will have stitches to help pull your tissue over the bone grafting site after the procedure. Bone grafting is meant to fill the tissue more than was there before the procedure, and this is to provide structural stability. It is therefore essential for you to avoid pulling your cheeks or lips to examine the site. In addition, excess pressure on the areas can cause the stitches to pull away from the site, exposing the graft, creating unnecessary pain, and delaying the healing process.
- Bleeding
Sometimes you may experience some bleeding after the bone graft procedure. However, you need not worry as blood-tinged saliva or light oozing is typical for the first 24 hours. In addition, tea bags, gauze, and tannic acid may be used to help slow or prevent further bleeding.
- Swelling
Experiencing swelling around your gums, teeth, mouth, eyes, cheeks and the sides of your face after a dental bone grafting procedure is common. Swelling is most prominent within the first 24 to 48 hours, and there is no cause for an alarm. Ice packs may be used to alleviate the swelling or discomfort. It is advisable to be least on the sides of your face for 30 minutes.
- Pain
Just like any surgical procedure, you will feel some pain after the bone grafting procedure. It is therefore recommended that you begin taking any prescribed medication before the pain or discomfort kick starts.
It is easier to manage pain than to chase it. The provided antibiotics may also prevent the spread of infection. Ensure to take the entire prescription, not unless it has side effects such as a reaction or a rash. If this happens, contact your doctor immediately.
- Oral hygiene
Good oral hygiene after the bone grafting procedure is important in encouraging healing and avoiding infection. Your dentist in Salem, MA, will give instructions on how to take care of your teeth after bone grafting. The instructions may include starting with five to six daily warm salty rinses beginning the day after the surgery. The rinsing should be done gently to avoid disturbing the bone graft.
- Diet
Diet is also a critical factor in the healing process, and your ability to masticate and swallow will be limited. Therefore, your dentist will urge you to start with fluids as you work your way to soft foods. You are also not supposed to take anything crunchy, hard, or hot as it may harm the surgical site. As you progress with your healing, then you can switch to your normal foods.
Who Needs Dental Bone Grafting?
The bone graft dental procedure may be recommended by our dentists at Mass Bay Dental if you:
- Are having your teeth extracted
- Need dental implants
- Have experienced bone loss caused by periodontal or gum disease
- Need to rebuild your jaw before getting dentures