Preparing Your Smile For Dental Implants

Tooth loss due to gum disease could not only impact how you eat and speak, but also lead to weakened jawbone structure. This weakened structure could then prevent you from being able to receive dental implants. But we can help! In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about fortifying your smile with laser-assisted jawbone grafting.

Tooth Loss, Gum Disease, and Weakened Jawbones

Our team has experience in preventing and managing gum disease. We understand that the advanced stage of the disease, known as periodontitis, can lead to adult tooth loss. When you lose teeth, the body will stop sending regular doses of calcium and phosphorus to the jawbone around the missing root. Which means these areas weaken and erode, which can lead to further tooth loss and even an older appearance. While dental implants can provide durable, long-lasting, and lifelike tooth replacement, they need jawbone structure to support them. In this weakened state, your smile may not qualify. But! We can strengthen your smile with our dental implants.

The Jawbone Grafting Procedure

To strengthen the lower jaw, our team could conduct a ridge augmentation procedure, also known as jawbone grafting. Essentially, we will carefully examine the area and then plan the procedure in detail, adding new structure to the lower jaw. This could be taken from other parts of your body, such as the rear of your jaw, your hip, or your knee bone. We may also use synthetic sources. Once attached, this helps fortify the lower jaw. We can then plan the placement of dental implants, which are inserted into the jaw and act like new roots. This helps stimulate the flow of nutrients to the jaw, so your jaw remains intact and your new teeth can last for decades to come, possibly a lifetime with proper care and attention.

Laser Dentistry

We can assist with laser dentistry throughout the procedure. With lasers, we can gently and accurately make modifications to the underlying structure and tissues, preparing your smile for grafting and for dental implant placement. In the process, the lasers will also target and destroy harmful oral bacteria to keep your smile healthy and strong. This also helps us manage the disease to protect your new teeth. If you have any questions about how our team will improve your oral health with laser dentistry and grafting, or if you want to tackle your missing teeth, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you smile with confidence again!

Schedule Your Appointment to Strengthen Your Smile

With laser dentistry, we can help strengthen your lower jaw. To learn more about preparing your smile for dental implant placement, call Dr. Ann Kania in Encinitas, CA, today at 760-642-0711.