Get Your Smile Ready for Dental Implants
Thanks to advancements in dental technology, more patients qualify for dental implants than ever before. However, in order for your implants to succeed, it’s important to have plenty of jawbone density and healthy gums. If you currently suffer from jaw bone deterioration or some form of gum disease, you’ll need to undergo a supplemental procedure before receiving your permanent dental implants.
Patients who previously wore dentures or lived with missing teeth are more likely to require these treatments. Learn more about how Dr. Kovacevic can make you a candidate for dental implants with our supplemental treatments.
What Are Supplemental Procedures?
A supplemental procedure is a form of treatment that improves the condition of your oral health in preparation for another dental process. For dental implants, a supplemental treatment can mean intensive cleanings, jawbone grafting, or treating gum disease.
During your initial consultation with Dr. Kovacevic, he’ll conduct a full evaluation of your teeth and gum line to determine if you require a supplemental procedure. We’ll also work with you and help develop a personalized treatment plan to help you reach your smile-goals.
Bone Grafting
For patients with weak jawbone density, Dr. Kovacevic can conduct a bone graft surgery to restore the structure. The procedure involves taking donor tissue and grafting it to the deficient areas of your jawbone. Over time, your jaw will bond with this new tissue and integrate it into itself, resulting in a strong and healthy jawbone that’s ready for dental implants.
Jawbone deterioration used to be a sure way to disqualify patients from receiving implants. Thanks to this convenient procedure, Dr. Kovacevic can help you become a candidate for the dental implant process.
Soft Tissue Augmentation
Soft tissue augmentation is very similar to bone grafting, except it treats your gums instead of your jawbone. Dr. Kovacevic will take healthy gum tissue from a donor and graft it to the receded areas of your gums. As your gums heal over time, they’ll absorb the new tissue to restore your oral health and prepare you for receiving dental implants.
This supplemental procedure can not only make you a better candidate for dental implants, but also it can help reverse the effects of gum recession caused by periodontal disease. Dr. Kovacevic can outline the benefits of soft tissue augmentation during your initial consultation at our Greensburg office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are supplemental procedures necessary for implants?
Dental implants require patients to have the necessary jawbone density as well as healthy gums. If you suffer from jawbone disintegration or any form of gum disease, your oral health is negatively impacted, and can affect the success rate of the treatment.
With supplemental procedures, Dr. Kovacevic can improve the health of your jaw and gums to make them ready for receiving dental implants.
Are supplemental procedures painful?
No, supplemental procedures are not painful. At the beginning of your treatment, either Dr. Kovacevic or our experienced staff will apply a local anesthetic to ensure that you don’t feel any pain or discomfort during the process. While you may experience some discomfort after your procedure, this usually subsides after a couple of days. During your initial consultation, Dr. Kovacevic can answer any questions you may have about sedation options.
How long does it take to recover from a supplemental procedure?
The recovery time after your supplemental procedure depends on the severity of your case. For patients who have extensive jaw bone deterioration or gum disease, it’ll take longer for their smile to heal before receiving dental implants. When Dr. Kovacevic evaluates your oral health, he’ll provide you with an accurate estimate of your recovery time.