Oral Surgeon Springfield

When you are missing teeth, it can affect more than just your ability to smile and chew. The longer teeth are missing from the jaw, the more likely it is that the bone will begin to deteriorate. When jaw bone atrophy occurs, replacing teeth—especially with dental implants—becomes difficult. Fortunately, Illinoisans can depend on the specialists at Oral & Facial Surgeons of Illinois to restore lost bone and allow more patients to become candidates for dental implants.

Types of Bone Grafting Procedures

There are many types of bone grafting procedures available. During your first visit, your doctor will perform a thorough examination and determine which type of bone graft would benefit your oral health. 3D CBCT scans may be taken to get a clearer understanding of your dental and facial structures, and your anesthesia and sedation options will be discussed to ensure your comfort throughout treatment.

Socket preservation is designed to prevent jaw bone deterioration. Rather than allowing the bone to atrophy when a tooth is extracted, our oral surgeons can place a bone graft in the socket to preserve it until it’s time to return to the office for dental implants. We can perform socket preservation at the same time as a tooth extraction.

Sinus lift procedures are often recommended for patients who need dental implants in the upper jaw. The sinuses, which are air-filled cavities behind the cheekbones, are separated from the upper teeth by a very thin bone. Often, placing a dental implant in such thin bone is difficult. A sinus lift, also called sinus augmentation, can be performed to supplement the bone and provide a more supportive base for the implant.

Ridge expansion can create additional space if your jaw isn’t wide enough to support dental implants. For this procedure, the ridge bone is divided, and then the space is filled with bone grafting material.

Major bone grafting is only necessary for treating severe bone loss. Most commonly, it’s recommended for birth defects or facial trauma injuries. In cases of major bone grafting, it’s possible to use bone from your body, such as your hip, to perform the procedure (as opposed to artificial or donor bone).

Soft tissue grafts ensure that the gum lines up around the implant crown for the most lifelike result. Sometimes, gum disease (periodontal disease) can cause advanced gum recession. Soft tissue grafts are small pieces of your own oral tissue taken from other areas of your mouth, often the roof of the mouth/palate, and surgically implanted in the area that needs more tissue. This type of graft can also help stop further recession of the gums.

Expedite Healing with PRP

Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is an approach to tissue regeneration that can be utilized during treatments such as bone grafting or dental implant placements to improve and speed up the healing process. Blood naturally consists of platelets, which are essential for clotting blood. Your doctor can obtain a small sample of your own blood, spin it in a centrifuge to separate the healing factors, and directly administer the platelet-rich plasma to the surgical site.

There is virtually no risk of disease transmission, and centrifuging the sample and creating the platelet-rich plasma only takes around 20 minutes. It won’t require an additional procedure or an extended waiting period, so you can experience the benefits of naturally speeding up your body’s healing process easily, comfortably, and conveniently.

Bone Grafting in Springfield, IL

Oral & Facial Surgeons of Illinois is the premier practice in central Illinois where you can expect superior care and oral surgery treatments that benefit you for life. Bone graft treatments rebuild bone to strengthen the jaw and help more patients become successful dental implant candidates. Contact us to learn about your tooth replacement options and how bone grafting can benefit you. We proudly serve patients of all ages in Springfield, and surrounding neighborhoods.