Strengthen your foundation for a healthier, more complete smile.
If you’ve experienced bone loss in your jaw due to missing teeth, gum disease, or injury, you may be wondering if your options for restoring your smile are limited. At Solt Family Dental in Wyoming, Michigan, Dr. Kevin Solt offers bone grafting procedures that rebuild and strengthen your jawbone—often making it possible to move forward with treatments like dental implants or to prevent further changes in your facial structure.
Bone grafting is a procedure where natural or biocompatible materials are placed in areas of the jaw where bone has been lost or is too thin. Over time, your body accepts this material and begins to rebuild new bone in its place. This not only restores strength and volume to the jaw but also provides a solid foundation for future dental work, such as implants or bridges.
Several dental conditions can require bone grafting before implants or other restorative treatments:
✔ Significant bone loss after tooth extraction or prolonged tooth loss
✔ Facial trauma or injury resulting in bone defects
✔ Preparation for implant-supported bridges or dentures
By rebuilding bone density, grafting ensures a secure foundation for implants and protects the strength of your jaw for years to come.
✔ Socket Preservation: Performed immediately after a tooth extraction to prevent bone loss and prepare for future implant placement.
✔ Ridge Augmentation: Restores the natural contour of the jawbone after bone loss.
✔ Sinus Lift: Adds bone to the upper jaw in the area of the molars and premolars, especially important when placing implants in the back of the mouth.
Before starting, we take digital images and scans to assess the extent of bone loss and create a customized treatment plan. During the procedure, bone grafting material—either from your body, a donor, or synthetic sources—is placed in the targeted area. The site is then protected with a membrane and sutured to promote healing.
Over time, your body naturally integrates the graft material, building new, strong bone. Healing times vary depending on the extent of the graft, but most patients are ready for dental implants within a few months.
After your bone graft, you may experience mild swelling or soreness, which typically resolves within a few days. Following all post-operative care instructions, including taking prescribed medications and avoiding pressure on the graft site, helps ensure a smooth recovery. Regular follow-up visits allow us to monitor your healing progress and plan your next steps toward restoring your smile.
