Dental implants are so effective because they replace your missing teeth from their roots to their crown—but this also means you must have sufficient jawbone density for supporting them! This is where dental bone grafts come in handy. Your dentist can borrow bone from another part of your body (usually somewhere else in your mouth) and use it to fortify existing bone in your jaw in preparation for dental implants. If your dentist has informed you that you’ll need a bone graft before you can receive dental implants in Palm Beach Gardens, here’s some insight into why this procedure is sometimes necessary, along with what you can expect afterwards.
What Can I Expect When Recovering from a Dental Bone Graft?
If there isn’t enough healthy bone for your implants to fuse with, they will ultimately fail due to not being able to withstand the daily forces of biting, chewing, talking, and so on. Fortunately, dental bone grafts can correct this and ensure the ultimate success of your implants—but what does the recovery process look like?
As with any other type of dental surgery, a bone graft will always require some time to heal afterwards. This recovery phase can take anywhere from several months to a year or so, depending on the size of the graft, the defect being treated, and the patient’s overall health and healing ability; but following your aftercare guidelines and taking care of yourself will ensure that things go smoothly. Initially following a bone graft, you might notice swelling or bruising in the face around the site of the surgery—but this is simply your body’s natural response to the procedure and nothing to fret over!
How Can I Ensure a Smooth Recovery following a Dental Bone Graft?
There are quite a few things you can do to ensure a smooth and stress-free recovery following your dental bone graft. Consider the following tips:
- Get plenty of rest; this assists your body with the healing process.
- Avoid intense exercise and physical activity following the procedure, as it can increase your body’s blood flow and cause bleeding in your surgical site.
- Apply cold compresses/ice packs to reduce swelling near the surgical site.
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco products—not only are these items bad for you, but they can greatly inhibit your body’s natural healing capabilities.
- Take over the counter or prescribed painkillers as necessary.
- Avoid hard, crunchy, or chewy foods initially and stick to a soft-food and liquid diet.
- Keep up with your regular check-ups throughout the healing process to ensure things are going as planned.
About the Practice
The team at South Florida Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery proudly serves patients and families in the Palm Beach Gardens community under the leadership of four skilled specialists: Dr. Paul Weinstein, Dr. Travis Thompson, Dr. Jeronimo Guzman, and Dr. Christopher Chafin. Their practice is proud to offer a wide range of services including dental implants as well as dental bone grafting. If you have any questions about the article or would like to arrange a visit, don’t hesitate to contact the practice online or over the phone for assistance: (561) 624-7116.