Bone Grafting - St. Louis, MO

Restore the Foundation of Your Smile

jaw bone loss model

The Reason for Bone Grafting

If you have one or more missing teeth or have had a tooth extracted, it’s important to restore proper bone levels in your jaw. As the foundation of your smile, your bone plays a vital role in your oral health and function. It supports your teeth and helps preserve your facial structure. But it needs the stimulation of tooth roots to remain dense and strong. When teeth are extracted or lost, the jawbone no longer receives stimulation and will resorb and shrink. Bone loss can lead to shifting and loosening of remaining teeth, loss of lip and cheek support, and jaw joint problems. Without enough bone support, you may not be able to replace your teeth with dentures or dental implants. To help ensure that these functional and esthetic consequences do not occur or worsen, our dentist and dental team at New You Smile provide bone grafting in St. Louis, MO. This procedure restores the jawbone volume or density that has been lost due to missing teeth to improve your oral health and function.

Dr. Fetsch doing dental surgery on a patient

No Fear Surgery

We understand that the idea of receiving oral surgery in St. Louis, MO may cause some of our patients to feel nervous and worried. This is normal! But know that our dentists are trained in the latest techniques and keep your surgery as minimally invasive as possible. We take extra measures at New You Smile to make you comfortable at your appointment, too, so you can feel relaxed and calm during your procedure.

The Process for Restoring Lost Bone

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that involves placing dental bone graft material in areas where the bone has resorbed, or a tooth has been extracted. We offer bone grafting in St. Louis, MO with the purpose of restoring the proper density, height, and width of the bone in the jaw. We partner with multiple insurance providers to make your treatment affordable and achievable. In general, bone grafting may involve one or more of the following procedures:

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Socket Preservation

Socket preservation is a bone grafting procedure our dentist completes after tooth extraction. This involves packing bone graft material into the empty tooth socket. Socket preservation slows the resorption process where the tooth is missing. It can also help preserve the health of the bone until a dental implant can be placed.

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Ridge Augmentation

Ridge augmentation refers to a bone grafting procedure that restores the natural density and contours of part or the entirety of a jaw ridge. Restoring healthy bone levels to a jaw arch can make dentures more comfortable and fitted to your gumline.

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Sinus Lifts

When bone in the premolar or molar areas of the jaw has lost density or volume, you may benefit from receiving a sinus lift in Louis, MO. Gently lifting the sinus cavity, bone grafting material can be placed to restore proper bone height.

Dr. Fetsch with patient smiling after consultation

The Benefits of Bone Grafting

Bone grafting seems like just a functional treatment meant to improve your oral health. But this treatment also has more widespread benefits. Tooth and bone loss can lead to numerous problems that affect your ability to eat, your oral and physical health, as well as your personal wellbeing. By restoring bone levels in your jaw, our St. Louis, MO team can treat infection and disease and replace missing teeth with restorations like dental bridges and dentures as well as prepare you for dental implants. Having a smile restored to proper function and esthetics can significantly improve your confidence, health, and quality of life!