bone grafting and asymetric smile

[hoho603]

I had a bad implant taken out on 8/14/2008 on tooth #10. on the same day, the doctor did bone grafting by using BMP-2. Now it is 5 weeks after the surgery. The major swelling is gone, the area is bulky now.

I notice because the bulkyness of the surgical area, when I smile, the shape of my lips become asymetric.  because the bulky area underneath my upper left lip, every time when I smile, that part of lip become thick and relative big when compare to the right side of my upper lip as the bulky surgical area underneath the lip push against the lip when I smile.

will this be permanent? or it is too early to say now and bulkyness could reduce over time as time pass by and my smile will become normal? Thanks.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Name for the procedure?  It would generally be termed an alveoloplasty.  The best thing to do is to describe your concerns with your doctor so that they may address the issue specifically.  

[hoho603]

for this kind procedure: recountour the gums/bone, what is the name for it? how should I describe it to the doctor?

I have been through too much with my #10 site, I would like to hear advice, is it an oral surgeon's work, or periodontist work? who will have more experience ? thanks.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

The bulkiness may be permanent as of right now.  Its possible to recontour the gums/bone underneath that bulky area when they enter to place the implant again.  Let your doctor know and they can plan ahead to do that procedure for you when you get the implant placed again.

When the implant is placed, check the gums/bone area then and see if it needs to be recontoured.