For patients any number of teeth, dental implants are the ideal method of replacing missing teeth and restoring smiles. However, not all patients who need implants are immediately ready for treatment. To help individuals prepare for dental implant treatment, our Chicago dentist offers a number of supplemental treatments, including bone grafting, sinus lifts, tooth extraction, and gum disease therapy.
Bone Grafting
For dental implants to succeed, it’s critical that the jawbone is strong enough to support dental implants. When teeth are missing, the jawbone begins to deteriorate due to lack of stimulation that would normally come from tooth roots. Bone grafting is a common supplemental treatment for patients who don’t have quite enough bone matter to secure a dental implant. This is a minor procedure where Dr. Ogbara surgically places a small portion of tissue to the deteriorated section of your jawbone. The dental implant is often placed during the same appointment.
Sinus Lift
The sinus cavity is located right above the upper arch. If teeth are missing from this area, the sinus cavity can quickly expand, limiting the amount of bone tissue available for dental implant placement. To ensure successful dental implant placement, Dr. Ogbara will perform a sinus lift. During the procedure, Dr. Ogbara gently pushes the sinus membrane upwards and then he fills the remaining space using donated bone tissue. You’ll be ready for implant surgery as soon as the bone graft tissue has become integrated with your jaw.
Tooth Extraction
When a tooth is broken or damaged due to factors such as cavities, trauma, or gum disease, we do what we can to save it. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. In these instances, extraction and replacement with a dental implants is the best option available. If the patient desires, extraction can be performed using oral sedation. Once the extracted tooth has been given time to heal, Dr. Ogbara will begin the dental implant process.
Treatment for Gum Disease
Gum disease is a serious infection which afflicts almost half of Americans over the age of 30. If gum disease is not treated by your dentist, it can devastate your smile and result in the loss of one or more teeth. Gum disease must be eradicated before a patient begins the dental implant process.
For patients who have lost teeth due to gum disease or face this serious condition, Dr. Ogbara offers non-surgical gum disease treatment. During the scaling and root planing procedure, plaque and infected tissue is removed from the patient’s gums and around the roots of their teeth. By using our Waterlase dental laser, this procedure is pain-free.