S.M.A.R.T.™ Bone Grafting: Am I a Candidate?

Bone grafting adds strength to your jawbone when it has become weakened, either through one incident or over time. Your jawbone keeps your teeth stable for chewing, speaking, and generally allowing you to move your mouth comfortably and easily.

Those who don’t have the proper density in their jawbones also won’t be able to tolerate a dental implant, which replaces missing teeth. 

Bone grafting can help with this, and S.M.A.R.T.™ bone grafting allows you to receive the benefits of the procedure through a much less invasive technique. But how do you know if you’re a candidate? 

Ueno Center Dental is one of the only providers in the country that offers S.M.A.R.T. bone grafting. Jeremy K. Ueno, DMD, and the rest of our providers can meet with you to determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure. 

Why you should consider S.M.A.R.T. bone grafting 

The S.M.A.R.T. technique was unveiled to the dental community in 2017. The acronym stands for “subperiosteal minimally invasive aesthetic ridge augmentation technique.” 

This procedure is actually much less invasive than typical bone grafting, allowing you to recover more quickly and experience less pain and discomfort. 

Complications are quite common with regular bone grafting, but with S.M.A.R.T. bone grafting, the likelihood of complications decreases considerably. The procedure is much less invasive, and only one incision is necessary, compared to traditional bone grafting, which requires more than one. 

While the bone regeneration process takes roughly the same amount of time whether you’re using one technique or the other, the process of recovery when using S.M.A.R.T. bone grafting is much quicker, usually occurring over a few days rather than a few weeks. 

All in all, the S.M.A.R.T. procedure is much easier on you, the patient.  

A good candidate for S.M.A.R.T. bone grafting 

But how do you know if you’re a candidate for bone grafting at all, let alone S.M.A.R.T. bone grafting? 

People who need bone grafting have, in most cases, experienced some issue that has caused the loss of jawbone density. This might include serious periodontal disease, a malignant growth in the area of the jaw that had to be removed, or an injury that resulted in severe trauma to your mouth. 

These issues can all lead to bone density loss. 

If you have missing teeth and want to have them replaced but don’t have enough bone density in your jaw to support the implant, you are also a good candidate for bone grafting. 

The procedure adds that density back to your jawbone so you can tolerate your new implants properly. 

You may also be a good candidate for bone grafting if you’re relatively healthy and able to tolerate the procedure and if you do not smoke or drink excessively. The use of alcohol and tobacco can severely weaken the regenerative effects of a bone graft. 

You’re likely to be a good candidate for S.M.A.R.T. bone grafting specifically if you are a good candidate for the bone grafting procedure and want to experience fewer side effects through a minimally invasive procedure. 

S.M.A.R.T. is highly effective and can help you recover quicker and with less risk of complications, so in most cases, we highly recommend it. But you’ll need to visit our office for a consultation before we’re able to approve the procedure. 

Learn more about S.M.A.R.T. bone grafting today

This technique can help you avoid many of the issues associated with typical bone grafting while still providing the benefits of the procedure. To learn more, just reach out.

You can call us at our Campbell, California, office, or visit us online to make an appointment.