What is a Bone Graft Dental?
A
dental bone graft is a procedure that replaces missing bone in your jaw with bone grafting material to encourage regeneration. The volume and density of your jaw are increased in areas of bone loss through a dental bone graft. The bone graft material can either be obtained from an animal tissue bank or from a human tissue bank (autogenous or allograft) (xenograft). The bone graft material may occasionally be synthetic (alloplast).
How does a Dental Bone Graft work?
Once the bone graft is in place, it creates room for your body to perform the necessary repair job. In other words, a dental bone graft acts as a scaffold for the growth and regeneration of your own bone tissue. Your dentist might occasionally mix a dental bone graft with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This is taken from a sample of your own blood and is used to promote healing and tissue regeneration.
A missing tooth affects your smile and can cause various other negative effects on your teeth and gums. An
oral and maxillofacial surgeon in West Hollywood can place a
dental implant as your solution, which serves as an artificial tooth root, in the jaw to anchor a bridge or a replacement tooth. Dental implants are durable and work just like natural teeth in terms of appearance and function.
Dental implants also help to protect your remaining teeth and jawbone from the negative effects of tooth loss. In some cases, a bone graft for tooth implant may be required before implants can be placed. But how is bone grafting done for dental implants, and what is a dental bone graft? Read on to find out.
Dental Implant Surgery
Discussed below are the stages of dental implant surgery.
- The first step of
dental implant surgery is the removal of the decayed tooth.
- The jawbone is then prepared for oral & maxillofacial surgery in West Hollywood. It is at this stage that grafting bone for dental implants may occur. A bone graft for dental implants is a procedure that restores and regenerates lost bone. Grafting bone for dental implants can also help to restore proper facial contour.
- A certain amount of bone loss frequently occurs when teeth are removed due to decay or trauma. The gradual deterioration of the jawbone affects your remaining teeth and can alter the shape of your face. When the jawbone present is not enough to support a dental implant, your oral and maxillofacial surgeon in West Hollywood will have to perform bone grafting to strengthen the jawbone.
What is a Bone Graft, and How is Bone Grafting Done for Dental Implants?
The procedure traditionally entails taking a fragment of bone from the patient's body or jaw and placing it in the deficient area of the jawbone. Alternative procedures available today include getting bone from an animal or cadaver. These methods are equally effective, cause less morbidity for the patient, and do not require a second surgical site.
It can take several months after this procedure for the transplanted bone to fuse with the jawbone and produce enough bone to support a dental implant. The implant procedure continues after the jawbone has fully healed. The dental implant rod, made from titanium, is first inserted into the jawbone. Several months may be required for this stage to heal.
The abutment, the second part of a dental implant, will be inserted into the jaw by your oral and maxillofacial surgeon in West Hollywood once healing is finished. Once more, healing of the soft tissue will require some time. After the implant site has healed, your implant specialist will obtain molds of your jawbone and teeth, and the replacement tooth or teeth can then be inserted.
Although
dental bone grafting can be time-consuming, they can be an important step in any implant process. It is okay to experience typical discomforts such as minor bleeding, bruising, or swelling of the skin or gums. These side effects are common and should resolve quickly. There are also some dietary restrictions at each stage of the implant process, such as the requirement only to eat soft foods while the mouth heals.
Who Needs a Bone Graft?
This procedure is usually required for people with reduced jawbone density. You may need a bone graft if you:
- Have a missing tooth that is to be replaced with a dental implant
- Are scheduled for a
tooth extraction
- Require jawbone restoration before getting dentures
- Have regions of bone loss from gum disease (periodontitis)
Types of Bone Grafts
- Socket preservation: This particular
dental graft, is also known as ridge preservation. It is put in the socket as soon as a tooth is extracted. This prevents the walls of the socket from collapsing and filling the space that is left behind by the extracted tooth.
- Ridge augmentation: If you’ve had missing teeth for some time, the underlying jawbone that in most cases supports your teeth is likely not as thick as it once was. A ridge augmentation enlarges the width of the jawbone and volume to offer a solid base for dental implants.
- Sinus lift: Your axillary sinuses located right above your top back teeth and may descend and infringe on the region that was originally occupied by roots of your missing upper back teeth. In this scenario, implants are inappropriate as they may pierce the sinus membrane. Your periodontist can perform a sinus lift to resolve this issue. A sinus lift raises the sinus back to its correct location. The space is then filled by a dental bone graft which now lays the groundwork for future dental implants a patient may want.
- Periodontal bone graft: Bone that is supporting the teeth can deteriorate due to gum disease, which may loosen teeth. A periodontal bone graft is positioned around an existing tooth to increase stability and decrease tooth motility.
Bone grafts for tooth implants must heal fully before the real implant is inserted. Recovery periods vary from person to person. In rare circumstances, your oral and maxillofacial surgeon in West Hollywood may be able to insert a dental implant and a bone graft at the same time. However, each case must be examined individually.
Get the Best Smile of your Life with us!
To discuss the bone grafting procedure with a dentist, you can look up “dentist near me” online to find a dental clinic. Bone grafting treatments help to restore and regenerate the jawbone, which provides a strong base for dental implants and other dental restorative procedures. Get in touch with
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery today to learn more about dental implant bone grafting, contact us today at
(310) 275-3635 to
schedule an appointment for a consultation.
