Supplemental Treatments in St. Charles, IL

Preparing You for the Implant Process

Sometimes patients have conditions that need a remedy before dental implant placement can happen. For example, jawbone deterioration and gum recession are two conditions that significantly affect the success rate of dental implants.

Until recently, most of the patients suffering from these conditions wouldn’t have qualified for the implant process. However, thanks to technologic advances in dentistry, we offer supplemental treatments to prepare your mouth. Such procedures that can validate your candidacy are bone grafting, and soft tissue augmentation, among others.

Issues: Gum Recession & Jawbone Deterioration

Jawbone deterioration is one of the most common issues we face before the implant process can start. Patients who have lived with gaps in their smiles or struggled with dentures have most likely been affected by jawbone deterioration. When you lose a tooth, that part of your jawbone shuts off, and you miss the constant stimulation required for healthy jawbone growth.

When your jawbone deteriorates, it no longer has the strength to support dental implants. Furthermore, if left untreated, jawbone deterioration can cause hollow cheeks and unattractive wrinkles, making you appear older and frail.

After deterioration, the next most frequent condition that requires treatment from Dr. Bram is gum recession. When your gums recede, they’re pulling away from your teeth, making your teeth appear longer.

There are many reasons why gum recession develops, but more often than not it’s a result of advanced periodontal disease—a severe form of gum disease that can destroy your mouth if left untreated.

Solution: Bone Grafting

In regards to jawbone deterioration and patients without sufficient bone density, we can get you ready for dental implants with bone grafting surgery. This procedure is simple; Dr. Bram will extract a small sample of tissue from another area of your body (usually, the wrist) and attach it to the concerned section of your jawbone.

The donor tissue will fuse with your jaw to rehabilitate it to full strength, and thus preparing it for implants. The process utilizes your jawbone’s natural ability to heal itself, much like osseointegration after implant placement.

Solution: Soft Tissue Augmentation

Soft tissue augmentation, or a soft tissue graft as it’s also known, works similarly to bone grafting except it addresses the issue of gum recession.

We’ll begin by collecting a small amount of soft tissue, and we’ll graft it to the receded areas of your gums. The new tissue integrates with the old, revitalizing the health of your smile.