With
at least 47% of Americans having some form of gum disease, periodontic
procedures like bone grafting are at an all time high. Gum disease risk factors
include poor oral hygiene habits, tobacco use, heredity and disease in other
parts of the body. No matter what the cause, if left untreated you will not
only be at risk for losing your teeth, your bone can disappear too.
Gum
disease starts as puffy gums that might bleed a little when you brush them. As
it progresses, eventually the gums will recede, teeth will fall out and bone
will melt away. Without sufficient bone, you will not be able to have dental
implants and your face will become disfigured. It is THAT serious.
Bone
grafting reverses that damage by using bone from another part of your body,
cadaver or cow to regenerate your jawbone and stimulate new growth. It takes
about six to nine months for your jaw to fill in and be ready for implants.
Unfortunately,
this is not a condition your body can correct on it’s own. Once your bone is
gone, it will not come back without intervention from a periodontist. You will
see the effects of this when you eat, speak and look in the mirror. It can also
make wearing dentures painful.
If
your periodontist has determined that a bone grafting procedure is your best
option in the treatment of your periodontitis, there is no time like the
present. The damage to your mouth will only get worse the longer you delay
treatment.
