Board-certified dentist, Dr. Todd McCracken, at Laser Smile Studio in Denton, TX is proud to offer bone grafting. Bone grafting, commonly referred to as bone regeneration, is performed when a patient is suffering from a weakened jawbone as the result of tooth loss, periodontal gum disease, infections, trauma or developmental defects. This procedure's purpose is to restore proper function and strength to the jaw so that the patient's dental restorations fit well, work properly and are comfortable. At Laser Smile Studio, we currently use three types of bone graft:

• Autogenous - Taken from the patient's chin, hip, shin or other locations. 
• Allograft - Taken from the bones of cadavers.
• Xenograft - Taken from bovine bone. 

Below are a few reasons that bone grafting may be recommended to our patients:

• To improve dental implant stability
• To aid ridge augmentation
• To treat gum disease
• To improve the appearance of the smile
• To improve undeveloped bone

Most bone grafting can be done with the patient under local anesthesia, but in cases where larger amounts of bone are being grafted, Dr. McCracken may prefer general anesthesia. Once the bone graft is prepared, Dr. McCracken will make a small incision in the gum to attach the graft to the needed area. Once the graft is in place, Dr. McCracken will suture the incision in the gums and then cover the treatment area with protective bandages.

After the bone graft procedure is complete, patients will be given antibiotics, pain medications, and an antibacterial mouthwash to improve the healing process. Patients are usually asked to avoid hard foods and putting pressure on the grafted area; a liquid or soft foods diet is best for the first few days after the procedure. The bone graft will be given 6 – 9 months to heal and bond to the jawbone before the dental implant procedure is scheduled.

For patients who have a weakened jawbone from gum disease, infection, trauma, or other reasons, bone regeneration and grafting can restore the strength of the bone to improve the patient’s overall oral health and provide needed support for a dental implant. If you feel that you or someone you know could benefit from bone grafting, or bone regeneration, give our friendly staff a call today to set up your consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!