In many cases, your dental insurance will help cover a percentage of your bone-grafting procedure and dental implants. The amount you’re responsible for will depend on your individual plan and whether or not you’ve hit your yearly cap.
Bone grafting is a straightforward procedure that is performed in-office and is usually completed in 90 minutes or less. The patient is first numbed with local anesthetic (sedation options are also available) and a small incision is made in the gums. The graft is then placed and sealed to the desired area before stitches are placed.
Bone material has traditionally been collected from other areas of the patient’s body. However, in recent years, more effective and less invasive options have emerged. The material can be synthetically made, donated from cadavers, or come from other animals such as cows.
Though recovery time will depend somewhat on your specific situation, most people can expect to feel completely back to normal after a week or two. Patients often experience some discomfort or soreness in the days following the procedure, which can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain medication.
Bone graft dentistry can be helpful for anyone with bone loss in the jaw or mouth. If you’ve lost a tooth, the jaw bone becomes weaker each passing day, and a bone graft can ensure that your jaw is supportive enough to handle a dental implant.
A simultaneous tooth extraction with bone graft surgery is also common for patients who require the removal of a tooth.
While you should feel better after a week or two, the actual bone won’t be ready to support an implant for about 3 to 4 months after the procedure.