Bone Grafting in Farmingdale, NY

Your jawbone is very important to your overall dental health. If your jawbone is weak from missing teeth or physical trauma, you may need to get bone grafting. This will allow your jaw to securely fit and hold dental implants. A bone graft will help build up your jawbone so it's healthy enough to support an implant. At Ferrari & Aldieri Dental Associates, this surgery is offered to strengthen your mouth for subsequent dental implant surgery to replace missing or weak teeth. Make an appointment with one of our excellent dentists at our office in Farmingdale, NY to learn more about bone graft surgery.

Some oral conditions, like gum disease, or a physical trauma to your mouth can cause a weakened jaw. Atrophy can also weaken the jawbone if a tooth was missing, and it wasn't treated or replaced with removable dentures or a cemented bridge. Bone grafting strengthens the jaw and prepares it for a dental implant. It's important to keep in mind that every day you have missing teeth is a day that bone loss occurs so the sooner you can come in, the better. Bone grafting can take several months to heal, but the result is a stronger jaw that will support your dental implant and your natural teeth to give you a healthier mouth and glowing smile.

The process of your bone grafting procedure will depend on where the graft comes from and how much grafting is needed. During your consultative appointment, one of our highly skilled dentists will discuss your grafting options and help you select the best plan. Some different options include:

Autograft: Bone is removed from one area of your body, such as the shin, hip, or chin.

Allograft: Bone is harvested from another person.

Xenograft: Bone is taken from an animal, generally a cow.

Alloplast: Synthetic bone may also be used.

As soon as the bone graft is ready to be placed, we will use local anesthesia to numb the areas being treated and place an incision in the gum tissue to reveal the bone. Your prepared graft will be attached to your bone. Proteins and collagen will also be attached as a way to encourage the graft to attach and grow. The gum tissue will be stitched closed and the area will be cleaned.

In the next 6 – 9 months, your graft should heal. We may prescribe pain medication or antibiotics for any inflammation or discomfort after the bone graft. Within this timeframe, your home oral care routine with flossing and brushing along with any additional products suggested by our dentists are very important. We will schedule follow-up appointments at Ferrari & Aldieri Dental Associates to check in with you and review your healing progress; this will help us to determine when you are ready for the dental implant process. Once we decide you're ready for your implants, we'll schedule your appointment with one of our dentists.

How long does a bone grafting procedure take?

A bone grafting procedure typically takes 1 – 2 hours, depending on the complexity and the grafting material used.

How long do bone grafts last?

With proper care, bone grafts can last indefinitely, providing a solid foundation for dental implants.

How soon can I get dental implants after bone grafting?

Typically, implants are placed 6 – 9 months after grafting once the bone has fully healed and integrated.

Strengthen your jaw so it can support your best smile with bone grafting at Ferrari & Aldieri Dental Associates. At your appointment with one of our skilled dentists, you will learn more about your options for graft material and get a custom treatment plan that will help give you a stronger jawbone. This will prepare your jaw and mouth for implants or dentures. Contact us at our Farmingdale, NY office to make your appointment.