Losing your teeth to gum disease could lead to major issues, and even weaken your jaw. Before you can receive dental implants to address your tooth loss, you may need a procedure to strengthen the lower jaw. In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about helping with laser-assisted jawbone grafting.
The Need for a Stronger Smile
If you have periodontal disease and the is not treated and managed in a timely manner, then you could develop a stage known as periodontitis, which leads to adult tooth loss. In fact, this is the number one cause of adult tooth loss! When this happens, the body will respond by suspending the flow of calcium and phosphorus to the jawbone. Without these nutrients, the jaw will weaken and erode, which leads to additional missing teeth and even an older appearance. This weakening also means that the smile may not be able to support dental implants, limiting your tooth replacement options. But we can strengthen your lower jaw and ensure it is implant-ready with laser-assisted jawbone grafting.
The Ridge Augmentation
Our team will essentially add new structures to the lower jaw, which strengthens the weakened areas to ensure they can support one or more dental implants. We will plan the procedure in detail with CT imaging and digital x-rays, and we will use local anesthesia and dental sedation to help you enter a deep state of calm and relaxation, with little to no memory of the procedure. Our team will add new structures using synthetic materials or possibly bone structure taken from other parts of your body, such as the rear of the jaw, the hip, or the knee bone. We then apply these to the weakened portions, where they bond with the existing bone structure and provide a new base to support dental implants.
Help with Laser Dentistry
Our team can use dental lasers calibrated to handle soft and hard tissue applications to aid in the process. The technology can help us make necessary adjustments to bone and gum tissue in preparation for the procedure. They also help destroy harmful bacteria to prevent complications like swelling, bleeding, and infection. If you have any questions about how our team will conduct jawbone grafting and use dental lasers to ensure treatment with precision, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help manage your periodontal disease and keep your smile full with dental implants!
Schedule Your Appointment for Ridge Augmentation
Our team wants to help prepare your smile for dental implants and ensure a full smile again. To learn more about how we strengthen smiles with laser dentistry, call Dr. Ann Kania in Encinitas, CA, today at 760-642-0711.