Bone Grafting

We can’t imagine what our bodies would look like without bones. This scaffolding provides support, form, and protection to everything around it. The bone around your teeth, alveolar bone, serves to hold them firmly in place. The height, shape, and density of this specialized bone can be compromised by gum disease, tooth loss or removal, or trauma.

If bone shrinks away from around your teeth, it never grows back. In some cases, bone can be encouraged to fill in with grafting materials placed by Dr. Pollard. Every situation offers a different scenario, but more options exist now to promote bone repair in the jaw. For example, when a tooth is removed, a large hole then exists in the bone. While it will fill in naturally, the site tends to shrink, drawing bone away from the area. Grafting materials can easily be placed at the time the tooth is removed to help preserve the bone. Grafts are especially beneficial if you’d like to consider an implant-supported replacement in the future.

Even previously collapsed areas can often benefit from specialized grafting material, bolstering nearly any part of the jaw bone. It’s important to note that bone destroyed by gum disease often leaves significant defects around teeth. While some of these areas are good candidates for grafting, many experience irreversible bone loss and compromised support of the teeth. Controlling gum disease with your Pollard Dental team will serve your health much better than corrective surgical grafts.