Bone Grafting/Sinus Lift
Successful dental implant placement requires sufficient bone strength, volume, and structure. When a person has untreated tooth loss or damage, the surrounding jawbone often deteriorates. This deterioration often results in significant decreases in the quality and quantity of bone in the jaw, complicating or even ruling out the placement of dental implants to restore your mouth.
Dr. Martin and Dr. Appelblatt are highly skilled and trained in using multiple techniques and technologies for bone grafting and sinus lift surgeries in South Lake Tahoe and Truckee, CA.
Socket Regeneration and Minor Bone Grafting
Socket regeneration is bone grafting at the time of tooth extraction to best prepare the site for implant placement and a new tooth. Bone grafting can replace bone lost through traumatic injuries, tumor surgery, congenital conditions, or unaddressed missing or damaged teeth. Patients with inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease, or injuries are all potential candidates for a bone grafting procedure.
By placing graft material within the socket, we help prevent bone loss from the extraction site and maintain an ideal location for a future dental implant. The graft material is very safe and effective, and more importantly, it prevents having to use material from your own bone, eliminating the need for another surgical site.
Autograft: Using Your Own Bone
In some cases, an autograft may be appropriate if a significant amount of bone is needed. Your bone has the best healing qualities because it includes living cells that increase bone growth. However, this technique requires surgery. With an autograft, Dr. Martin or Dr. Appelblatt will collect bone from different areas of the jaw. In rare cases requiring a large bone graft, we may take bone from your hip or tibia (lower leg). These surgeries are usually performed in the operating room at your local hospital.
Sinus Lifts in South Lake Tahoe, CA
The maxillary sinuses (a large, air-filled space in our cheeks) enlarge as we age. They may often be found just around the roots of the maxillary molars. Sometimes, there’s inadequate bone for implant placement after removing the maxillary posterior teeth. We may need to add bone to the area to obtain a solid foundation for a healthy implant. This is where a sinus lift comes in.
A sinus lift is a procedure where a small window into the sinus is made, and the sinus membrane is gently lifted superiorly. We then place bone graft material underneath the membrane, providing significant additional bone height that allows implant placement. Sometimes, depending on the residual bone height, implants can be placed on the same visit we perform the sinus lift.
Soft Tissue Grafting
Soft tissue (gum) grafting is necessary in cases of inadequate quantity or quality of gum tissue around teeth or dental implants. We offer soft tissue grafting in South Lake Tahoe, which we often perform with dental implant surgery to help ensure a great-looking smile.
Contact Us for More Info!
Call us today to book a consultation with Dr. Martin or Dr. Appelblatt at Tahoe Oral Surgery. We can speak with you about your specific needs and whether a bone graft or sinus lift in Tahoe is right for you.
