jaw bone graft

[efeistie1]

I have a three tooth bridge.  The periodontist wants to section the bridge and keep one tooth in tact on the end.  The other end of the bridge will have the tooth pulled. (the middle tooth is already gone) She wants to do a costly bone graft in the area where she will extract the tooth.  She says my jaw bone loss is extensive at this point.  If I am getting a partial plate that will cover this area, is the graft really necessary?  Thank you.

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

The bone graft is not necessary unless you expect to have implants in the future. If she feels the graft is needed for the partial then of course it would have to be done, but that is usually only needed in extreme cases.

[Zzzdentist]

Is there is severe resorption of the ridge under the bridge area, a bone graft may help rebuild the area a bit so that it supports a partial denture better.  Some razor edged, thin ridges can be uncomfortable when biting forces from a partial denture are applied on them.

You might consult your dentist who is making the partial denture for you to give you their opinion about how things would be without the bone graft.

Zzzdentist