Firstly, before we answer your question on why you possibly need a bone graft, let’s answer the more obvious question, what is a bone graft? Bone grafting is a procedure used to replace bone loss in the jaw. Dental bone grafts are made from hydroxyapatite, which is a naturally occurring mineral found in the components of organic bone. This material is most used now due to the osteoconduction, hardness, and acceptability of the original bone present. Bone Grafting usually takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months for full healing, and to fuse with existing bone. However, any discomfort from the procedure only takes a matter of weeks to dissolve. With medication, ice,

Reasons why you may need a bone graft

A missing tooth doesn’t seem like a big deal until it is. Even if the appearance of your smile hasn’t been affected, a missing tooth or multiple teeth can impact the quality of your jaw bone density and structural integrity. When you have missing teeth, the jawbone begins to reabsorb into the body, causing shrinkage. 

Dental Implants 

Dental implants are the most common reasons many individuals receive bone grafts. Bone grafting provides the patient with structural integrity of the jawbone prior to dental implant surgery. Once the supporting structure is restored, the pateinet can receive their dental implants. Living a happy, healthy, pain free life. 

Missing teeth or tooth

If you find that you are missing 1 or more teeth, a “socket graft” may be the answer to your problem. This procedure allows the Dentist to inset grafting material into the empty socket left by the missing or extracted teeth/tooth. 

Periodontal Disease 

Also known as gum disease, weaken the jawbone causing natural teeth that are present to shift, and loosen. Periodontal disease is usually caused by poor oral hygene habits. It’s extremely important to take care of this issue before not only are you missing teeth, but facing medical concerns as well. Such as, but not limited tol heart and lung disease. Those who leave their periodontal disease untreated for an extended amount of time, bone grafting may be deemed necessary in order for the bone to support an implant. 

Teeth Misalignment 

A fact not frequently known; misaligned teeth can cause bone loss as well. When teeth overlap, or are out of alignment completely, the stimulation needed for your bone will decrease gradually if the teeth are not fixed. There are of course many other methods for straightening teeth, however bone grafting could still be needed to ensure support for your teeth, once they are aligned. 

Types of Dental Bone Grafts 

There are 3 different types of dental bone grafting. 

• Block Bone Graft 

With this type of bone grafting, the Dentist will use bone from the back of your natural jawbone, near your wisdom teeth. This option is favorable if you have extensive bone bloss that needs to be fixed. 

• Socket Graft 

This form of grafting is usually performed at the time you get your tooth extracted. Socket Grafting prevents bone loss associated with tooth loss. With this, your body will not be able to reabsorb th ebone around where your missing tooth was. As well as prepping your mouth for dental implants in the future. 

• Sinus Lift

With this form of bone grafting, if you find that you have lost some of the molarss in your mouth (either upper or lower), often times the sinus wil lstart to travel downward. This will cause the gap left by the teeth to fill. With a sinus lift, your sinus’ are restored to normal, while the gap is repaired using bone grafting. 

Texas Sedation Dental and Implant Center can perform minor, or major procedures for patients in need. Our goal is to provide exceptional oral health, overall, for all. It’s recommended to schedule an appointment with your Dentist if you are experiencing any of concern. To learn more about bone grafting, or dental implants, contact us today at

(903) 704-0154.

If you’re in pain, tired of not being able to eat the foods you enjoy, and unable to even smile at a stranger passing by you on the street thanks to your missing, broken, or rotting teeth, we understand the anxiety you face every day. At Texas Sedation Dental & Implant Center, we want to help you choose the best dental options for you. In order to make that happen, we want to give you the full transparency your future care plan deserves.

Did you know that an incredible 70% of tooth loss in adults is caused by gum disease? It’s the leading cause of adult tooth loss, and when left untreated, it can affect more than just your teeth. Gum disease can have a terrible impact on your overall bodily health too.

While many adults get their first set of false teeth between the ages of 40 and 49, most of them always settle on a set of standard dentures the first time around. While dentures can “replace” missing teeth, improve speech, make eating easier, and help improve confidence, the reality is, they aren’t a lifetime fix, and often come with built-in difficulties. Dentures may be right for some patients, but they’re certainly not “one size fits all.” That’s why so many more people these days are making the move to dental implants as a permanent solution for their lost or damaged teeth.

The Statistics

There are more than 36 million Americans who have no teeth at all in their mouths. 23 million are missing multiple teeth, and about 12 million are missing teeth in at least one arch. And finally, another 120 million are missing at least one tooth. For many years, about 90% of these people were turning to dentures as the solution to their problem, but over the last few decades, that number has been steadily declining. Between 2019 and 2020 alone, dentists saw an increase of 6.3% in the use of implants over dentures for patients between the ages of 65 and 74. It’s predicted that by 2026, that number will increase to 23%! 

But what does that really mean?

It means more and more people are recognizing how and why implants are a better choice than dentures. But that recognition starts with understanding each option thoroughly.

Dentures

Dentures are often the most cost-effective way to enhance your smile and confidence. They cost less when compared to dental implants, which is why many individuals tend to try them first — they simply want to avoid the extra spending of implants. Many individuals will also choose dentures as their first attempt at a solution because they fear invasive procedures and surgery. Plus, if more tooth loss occurs in the future, dentures can be easily modified to accommodate the missing teeth. However, even though dentures can temporarily improve your appearance, they actually hinder your overall health in the long run, because they give you a temporary fix for a permanent problem.

Dentures do very little in the way of preserving and supporting the bone in your jaw. Over time, the bone that holds your natural-born teeth in place will begin to vanish. This is often referred to as the “collapsing” of your facial features. This collapsing can cause further deterioration that can lead to a myriad of health problems. With dentures, you’ll also need to revisit the dentist every few years to have them realigned because as your jaw bone deteriorates, the dentures will fit more loosely than when they were first created. This eventually leads to difficulties speaking, chewing, and even sores in your mouth from uncomfortable rubbing on your gums.

There are several more factors to keep in mind when it comes to dentures too:

• They can’t be worn overnight while you sleep.
• You can eat certain foods like caramel, apples, corn on the cob, nuts, popcorn, carrot sticks, and tough meat like steak.
• You have an increased risk of gum disease thanks to food particles trapped inside your dentures.
• Replacements are needed every 3-6 years, and that’s only if you take impeccable care of them; if you drop them or otherwise mistreat them, they can crack and break easily, meaning they’ll need replacing sooner. 
• Partial dentures have been shown to weaken the surrounding teeth in your mouth that are left to support the dentures.
• Dentures must be removed to be cleaned. A recent study found that 89% of denture patients don’t take adequate care of their dentures, even though most of them were inclined to believe they did.

Dental Implants

Time and time again, dental implants have been shown to improve the quality of life for many people. Not only does it permanently improve their physical appearance, but it permanently benefits the functionality of their mouth too. When properly cared for, dental implants can last decades, if not a lifetime. The idea behind dental implants is to provide patients with the ability to have a permanent, healthy smile. They’re the only tooth replacement option that can stimulate bone growth and prevent further loss of the jaw bone. That’s how many of our patients are able to regain up to 85% of their bite force ability within just a few months after receiving dental implants. There have even been cases when a patient regains 100% of their natural bite force. With implants, it also looks and feels like you have natural teeth because the root of the tooth is replaced along with the tooth. Implants won’t affect your speech, hinder your ability to eat the food you enjoy, and with proper care, much as you would give your natural teeth, they’ll give you a beautiful smile for a long time.

Are there downsides to dental implants?

While many patients never experience any detriments to dental implants, there is a very small percentage of implants that do fail, averaging somewhere between 5-10%. This usually happens shortly after the implants have been installed, and sometimes up to a year later. One of the most common reasons this happens is due to a lack of bone density in the jaw. This is why dental professionals do a thorough examination of their patients — including their jaw bone — before determining if dental implants are the right option.

Another potential downfall for some is the fact that, even though it’s minor, receiving dental implants is a form of surgery. Having any form of a surgical procedure can be unsettling to many, but that’s where Texas Sedation Dental & Implant Center is different. We specialize in offering our patients sedation dentistry via I.V. sedation so that they can relax, and feel comfortable with and confident in their surgery.

The last potential detriment people may see in dental implants are the cost — many shy away from getting them because the costs can be high. We won’t mislead you here — dental implants aren’t considered cheap. But they can’t be expected to be cheap either, not when you’re receiving a brand new set of teeth, a beautiful smile, and the ability to talk and eat without pain or humiliation. Those realities should be priceless! But as with any dental plan, cost is dependent upon needs. That’s why we’ll create a custom plan for your care and walk you through it every step of the way. We also offer financial assistance where insurance doesn’t cover everything, or if you’re uninsured. 

Give Texas Sedation Dental & Implant Center a call so we can discuss how dental implants might be your best option for getting yourself back to smiling!

Are you looking into dental implants? Are you curious if they’re the right option for you and your oral health? Many individuals look into dental implants as a way to replace the teeth they’re missing, or to anchor a set of dentures. While implants are a great option for many people looking for a strong, life-like set of teeth to replace damaged or missing ones, there are always some variables to consider.

1. How much bone is present?

The amount of bone in your jaw is an extremely important variable to consider because it’s how we determine how well your implant will attach to the inside of your mouth. Think of it like a project you work on at home: You often use a screw to combine two objects together and secure them in place. When it comes to dental implants, your dentist uses available jaw bone to secure the implants in place. When you have a missing tooth for an extended period of time, your jawbone collapses inside, shrinking itself in density, width, and height. This causes not only damage to your mouth, but your overall physical appearance and your functionality when eating or talking. After this starts happening, there’s little chance of being able to attach an implant to the jawbone successfully.

2. How do you tell how much bone is present?

First, your dentist will assess the condition of your mouth. They first do a physical examination, and then they take x-rays. This will give them a better idea of how much bone is left, and if it’s in healthy enough condition for implants to be placed. A lack of bone or advanced bone loss is the top reason why individuals may not qualify for dental implants.

3. Are you a tobacco user?

If the answer is yes, then dental implants may not be a great fit for you. It’s been proven that heavy smokers have a higher risk for implant failure. So while you could still receive implants, if you’re a tobacco user, the likelihood of them surviving long-term is minimized due to increased healing time from secondary factors related to tobacco usage. Much like when you get a tooth removed, smoking causes massive disruption in the natural healing process of your mouth. The constant sucking and pulling on air through the mouth while smoking a cigarette increases dry sockets and introduces bacteria and other chemicals into the implant site. Many dentists will ask you to attempt to quit smoking before undergoing a dental implant surgery so you can increase the likelihood of a successful procedure and outcome.

4. How is your overall health?

You might wonder why this question is important, and what it has to do with your teeth. The short answer is that the wellbeing of your physical health is sometimes directly related to your oral health. It’s important to consult with your dentist on any physical or biological health concerns you may have, such as diabetes, autoimmune disorders, HIV, if you are on any blood-thinning medications, or if you have any allergies. Common allergies that should be discussed are latex and metal allergies, such as titanium.

5. What type of implant is right for you?

While each patient is different, most dentists recommend the method of using just four implants to fully replace your teeth, or our Permanent Full Smile procedure. With this method, “all” of your teeth supported on “four” dental implants. Prosthetic teeth are placed inside the mouth to restore badly broken or decaying teeth, and they emulate real teeth. This gives you back the ability to talk, chew, and can even restore your jawbone to a healthier state. This incredible technology gives patients a smile that can last them at least 20 years, with great potential to last an entire lifetime when properly cared for.

6. What are the best benefits of dental implants?

They can last a lifetime. The implants are made from titanium and placed in the jaw bone. The additional biocompatible materials used are non-toxic, which means they resist being rejected by your body.

They look and feel like real teeth. One of the biggest advantages of dental implants is that you receive a fully-restored and functional set of teeth to replace what was once broken or missing. With that comes the ability to eat the food you enjoy again without pain. You can treat your implants as if they’re your real teeth by brushing, flossing, and maintaining overall good oral hygiene practices. 

They improve your appearance. Dental implants will replace gaps, broken teeth, crooked teeth, and missing teeth. They give you a healthy smile, which in turn gives you the confidence you need to then feel great about smiling and showing your teeth.

They prevent sagging and premature aging. Many patients looking at dental implants do so because they’ve noticed their jaw starting to tuck closer to their chin. This happens because of bone loss resulting from missing or gapped teeth. This can cause physical changes to the structure and appearance of the face, such as wrinkles around the mouth, thinning of the lips, and a pointed chin.

1. How much do dental implants cost?

A healthy and beautiful smile that can last a lifetime admittedly doesn’t come cheap. But even with more costly procedures, dental implants are an incredible investment for the patients who receive them. Implants range in price on a case-by-case basis, so be sure to get an evaluation from your dentist and discuss all your options for treatment and payment.

1. Are you ready to make a commitment to your oral health?

Having dental implant surgery should be considered a serious procedure with lifelong benefits. For this reason, it’s important to feel ready to commit to the process, and subsequently taking care of your oral health afterward. Be sure to consider all the variables listed above, and talk with your dentist about what types of implants are available, what would be the best option for you, and all the costs associated with it.

If you’re ready to have a discussion about dental implants, we look forward to hearing from you!