Bone Grafting

A bone graft in your Austin dentistry office adds volume and density to your jaw in areas where bone loss has occurred. The bone graft material may be taken from your own body (known as autogenous), or, in some instances, the bone graft material may be synthetic (known as alloplast). You may need a bone graft for bone loss in your jaw if:

  • You require rebuilding of the jaw before getting dentures
  • You have bone loss due to periodontal disease

Please keep in mind, however, that not all tooth extractions require a bone graft, not all dental implants require a bone graft, and not all denture candidates require a bone graft. Every person has a unique situation, and your Austin oral surgeon at Barton Oaks will know what you need once a thorough examination is performed.

Tooth Extraction

Several decades ago, the mere thought of getting a tooth pulled kept many people from going to their dentist for years. Images of huge shots of Novocain, pliers to pull the tooth, and a bloody mess prevented people from getting the dental care they needed. Of course, when dental care is put off, dental problems only get worse.

With so many advances in procedure and dental technology, tooth extraction is no longer the nightmare it used to be. Sedation dentistry allows dentists in Austin to extract teeth quickly and painlessly. Tooth extractions are often needed before restorative dentistry procedures; you may need a tooth extraction if:

  • You have severe tooth decay
  • You have a broken tooth
  • You have an impacted tooth
  • You have suffered a dental injury in a car accident or from a blow to the face.
  • You have severe tooth decay
  • You have a broken tooth
  • You have an impacted tooth
  • Your teeth are overcrowded
  • You have periodontal disease
  • You have suffered a dental injury in a car accident or from a blow to the face.

Alveoloplasty

Alveoloplasty is a surgical procedure that is done (typically at the same time as tooth extraction) to smooth and contour the jawbone within the alveoli (sockets of the teeth). Alveoloplasty is typically performed before the placement of dental implants, and this oral surgery provides the dental implants a higher chance of success, retention, comfort, and stability. Alveoloplasty helps recreate the natural contour of the gums and jaw that may have been lost due to bone loss from tooth extraction or other reasons.

Alveoloplasty smoothes the jawbone and is done in areas of the jaw where teeth have been removed or have fallen out. Alveoloplasty may be performed with tooth extraction, or it may be performed as a stand-alone procedure.

When a tooth is extracted, a hole is left in the jawbone. When the gums have healed, the jawbone may have high and low points. This unevenness may make it difficult to fit a denture properly. A denture base may rub against high points, causing sore spots and a bad fit.

Before performing alveoloplasty, our dentistry team in Austin, TX, will create a model of your jaw to show where the bone needs to be removed and in what amount. Instruments will remove the necessary bone, and a file will smooth it. Water will be squirted across the area to remove the bone.

Alveoloplasty is a relatively simple procedure that can be done under local anesthesia and sedation, so you will not feel any pain during the procedure. Many dental practices have to send you to another location for oral surgery such as this, but at Barton Oaks Dental Group, oral surgery is performed right on-site.

Oral Surgery Performed with Restorative Dentistry in Austin, TX

Your dental needs should be met in one location by one team of dental professionals you trust. When you go to different practices for certain procedures, there is less continuity of care, and a true patient/doctor connection is harder to maintain. We encourage you to choose Barton Oaks Dental Group as your comprehensive dentistry provider in Austin. Please call us to make an appointment (512) 327-6947, fill out our online contact form, or call our front desk to schedule a new patient evaluation.