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Dental Bone Grafting in Manhattan, NYC

Why Would I Need a Bone Graft?

Not everyone needs a bone graft. It’s mostly used for those who have gone a long time with missing teeth. A bone graft may be needed before you can get dental implants if bone density in your jaw is low. A minor, outpatient procedure, a bone grafting procedure isn’t major surgery, but it still needs to be done properly. Only an experienced family dentist can determine if it’s what you need. Call Dr. Alex Shalman in Lower Manhattan for an initial consultation.

Consulting a dental implant specialist like Dr. Alex Shalman allows you to get the right advice about your teeth and your overall oral health. That’s because he practices both family dentistry and cosmetic dentistry. He knows the best smiles are also the healthiest. If you need a bone graft, Dr. Shalman cares as much about your appearance as he does about your health. His boutique dental practice, located conveniently in Downtown Manhattan, boasts comfortable surroundings and cutting-edge dental technology. But the real draw is a dentist who prides himself on patient care.

Why Do I Need Bone Graft Surgery?

Bone loss isn’t always noticeable, since the process occurs slowly over time. Most often, the culprit is one or more missing teeth that you have not replaced. Every tooth is anchored in your mouth by a root in jaw, and the roots stimulate your jaw bone.

A bone graft procedure may become necessary or desirable when:

• You’re missing even a single tooth. Your jaw bone beneath the missing teeth may begin to deteriorate in a process called resorption.
• You have low bone mass in your jaws, making you ineligible for a dental implant. A bone graft increases the odds that an implant will be successful.
• Your low jaw bone mass creates a sunken-cheek look, making you seem older than you really are. A bone graft helps you keep a youthful appearance.

A bone graft is a relatively straightforward outpatient procedure, mostly for an aging population who’ve lost teeth some time ago. The bone loss process takes time. Dr. Shalman has the training and skills to perform oral surgery for you or any member of your family.

What Causes Missing Teeth and Bone Loss?

Bad oral hygiene is a major contributor toward dental problems like a hole in a tooth, tooth decay and tooth infections. All of these may eventually lead to a tooth falling out or the need for a tooth extraction. While emergency dental care or an implant can save your teeth, inaction may cause you to start losing bone mass.

To prevent missing teeth and bone loss, avoid circumstances and situations that do not protect your jaw bone, such as:

• Trauma. If you suffer a blow to your mouth, you could end up with a broken tooth that may have to be pulled.
• Periodontal disease. When your gums recede from your teeth, it exposes the tooth roots. That often creates problems such as an abscess tooth, sensitivity and eventually tooth loss. To prevent periodontal disease, practice healthy habits, such as daily brushing and flossing.
• Dental bridge. Traditionally, a dental bridge is a plate containing replacement teeth that sits on top of your gums. But like dentures, it does nothing to prevent bone loss, as it does nothing to stimulate the bone.

How Does Bone Grafting Work?

A bone grafting surgery is an outpatient procedure done in your dentist’s office. You go home afterward to heal. Before the procedure, Dr. Shalman administers a local anesthetic. Then he makes a small incision in your gums to access the deteriorated bone. After adding in the bone graft material, he sews up the incision.

The most common bone graft options include:

• Autografts. The gold standard in dental bone grafts, this material comes from your own body, either from your chin, shin or hip. Retrieving this material may require a separate surgery.
• Allografts. This graft material comes from human donors. The material is thoroughly cleaned before it’s used.
• Xenografts. The inorganic parts from the bones of animals, such as cows, become the bone graft material. This material is completely safe to use.
• Alloplastic. This graft material is synthetic. Often made from hydroxyapatite, a natural mineral found in bones, it offers superior hardness and compatibility.
• Ceramic-based. This material is made from either ceramics or from calcium or bioactive glass.

If your need for a bone graft is minor, Dr. Shalman may be able to fit your dental implant posts immediately after the grafting procedure. Otherwise, before you can get the implants, you have to wait until you heal, which can take several weeks or longer. While you heal, the graft fuses with your jaw bone, promoting new bone growth.