Bone Regeneration in Monmouth County
Progressive Periodontics & Implant Dentistry provides bone regeneration in Eatontown & Howell, NJ. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Bone regeneration is used to supplement areas where there isn’t sufficient bone height or width to adequately support a tooth or dental implant. This is most commonly needed in order to repair damage from gum disease. As gum disease progresses, both the gums and the bone around the teeth begin to recede, which creates pockets between the gum tissue and the tooth. Harmful bacteria can collect in these pockets, which causes further damage to the bone structure.
The jawbone plays an important role in your overall oral health. When it begins to break down, either due to gum disease or tooth loss, your bite may become weaker, your teeth can start to shift in your mouth, and you may even suffer tooth loss. This tooth loss further encourages the resorption of bone, which can cause facial collapse, a condition that results in a prematurely aged appearance. Bone regeneration can prevent these complications from occurring.
What to Expect During a Bone Regeneration Procedure
The goal of bone regeneration is to eliminate the pockets where bacteria can collect and augment the jaw to replace the bone that has already been lost.
Before we begin your bone regeneration procedure, we numb the area where we’ll be working so you won’t feel any pain. Next, the gingival tissue is folded back, which allows us to remove plaque, bacteria, and tartar from your tooth below the gum line. We place special materials in the area where bone loss has occurred around the tooth or implant to encourage new support growth. These include isolating membranes, bone grafts and tissue-stimulating proteins which can initiate your body’s natural ability to regenerate soft tissue and bone.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bone Regeneration
Can bone regenerate around teeth?
Yes, with modern periodontal techniques, we can regenerate lost bone around the teeth and implants. Bone regeneration allows us to utilize your body’s own ability to build bone in order to provide a more stable base of support for your teeth and implants. This results in potentially saving the teeth and improving your dental health by eliminating infection-prone sites.
Is bone regeneration painful?
Bone regeneration is typically not painful—local anesthetic injections are used to numb the soft tissues and bone before we begin any work. Most patients will function normally the next day. Typically, you will only need mild analgesics like ibuprofen or Tylenol® for a few days. We will provide you with very specific instructions for managing any discomfort. If you’re feeling nervous about the procedure, ask us about options for sedation.
How long does it take to recover from a bone regeneration procedure?
The recovery period is usually about a week or two—in other words, after a week, you’ll feel back to normal. Plan on taking the day off on the day of the procedure but the next day should be more than manageable to return to work. During the initial first week, avoid physical exertion and exercise. You will be avoiding eating or cleansing the area for a short period. Specific detailed care instructions will be provided. Although you will not feel sensitivity in the area, the regeneration process will continue to progress up to six months after the procedure until fully mature.
Is bone loss reversible in periodontitis?
Once bone is lost due to gum disease, it will not grow back on its own. If applicable, bone regeneration or grafting is needed in order to restore the bone that had been lost.
Is bone regeneration used after a tooth is extracted?
Bone loss around an extracted tooth may be regenerated to allow for future implant placement. Without the bone regeneration, additional height and width of the bone will usually be lost. Regenerating the bone at the time of extraction preserves this bone for the implant therapy.
Do you have more questions? Contact us to learn more and schedule an appointment.