We often talk about how we use our perio lasers to take on gum disease, managing it to prevent tooth loss. But did you know we can use the same technology to aid in jawbone grafting, preparing smiles for dental implant placement? In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist looks at laser-assisted jawbone grafting.

The Impact of Tooth Loss

When we develop the periodontitis stage of gum disease, this could actually sever the tissues that connect the teeth and gums. This leads to loose and missing teeth. In fact, this is the number one cause of adult tooth loss. With periodontics, we want to manage the disease and prevent this from occurring. But if you do lose teeth, we can offer replacement with dental implants. However, if the loss of your teeth has weakened your jaw, we may need to strengthen it with laser-assisted jawbone grafting!

The Grafting Process

When you lose teeth in the lower jaw and the bone structure weakens as the body stops ending doses of calcium and phosphorus to them, this could mean there simply isn’t enough structure to support one or more dental implants. However, with a ridge augmentation, also known as a grafting procedure, we can strengthen this area. With the dental laser portion, we will make changes to the hard structures and tooth roots to prepare your smile for the ridge augmentation procedure, in which we apply new tissues taken from other parts of your body or from synthetic sources. This provides a new base that can support your new teeth. The lasers can target areas with precision, and they help limit the risk of swelling, infection, and bleeding afterward.

Dental Implant Placement

When the ridge augmentation procedure is over and the area heals properly, we can then guide one or more dental implants into the jaw. These are accepted as new tooth roots and bond with the jaw, which keeps your smile intact and preserves your youthful facial features. This also helps ensure your new teeth can last for decades to come, or even a lifetime in some cases. Our team can then complete your new teeth with crowns or a prosthetic, so you can smile with confidence again. By managing your periodontal disease, we can also help prevent further tooth loss too.

If you have any questions about how we conduct grafting and implant placement, or about our dental lasers, then contact our team today to learn more.

Schedule Your Appointment for Ridge Augmentation

Our team is eager to help ensure your smile is ready for the placement of dental implants! To learn more about the process of strengthening your jaw, call Dr. Ann Kania in Encinitas, CA, today at 760-642-0711.