What Should I Expect?
After your initial examination, Dr. Flack or Dr. Shuck will then commence treatment on the affected area of the jaw bone. Although a bone graft may make many patients feel uneasy, rest assured, our doctors are experts. First thing is first, our doctors will have to determine the best type of bone graft treatment for your particular condition.
- Autogenous - Harvested from the patient’s own body (usually from the posterior part of the lower jaw or the chin). This method is usually preferred because it produces the most predictable results.
- Allograft - Cadaver or synthetic bone
- Xenograft - Cow bone
The bone grafting procedure can often take several months to complete. Bone is typically harvested from your own body (or on rare occasions obtained from a “bone bank”) and added to the affected site. This bone will fuse with the existing bone and the migration of cells will cause firm adhesion and cell growth. Supplementing the jaw with bone will result in greater bone mass to help support and anchor the implant(s).
Follow Up Care and Recovery
Most patients can return to work and their normal daily activities 48 hours after their procedure, although each procedure can be different. Please be sure to ask our staff if you have any particular activities that may be strenuous or out of the ordinary. Normal recovery periods after this procedure can range between a few days to a few weeks depending on the type of strains you have endured. It can take some patients longer to fully recover. To help with the healing process, we always recommend getting as much rest as possible and eating soft food for a few days. Medication will be prescribed to you, and you should always follow the doctor's instructions post-surgery.
