Bone Grafting for Dental Implants
Enhancing Bone Density for Successful Implant Placement
For patients considering dental implants, the lack of sufficient jawbone can be a concern. However, with the option of bone grafting, there is hope. Whether you’ve been wearing dentures for a while, have had missing teeth for an extended period, or naturally have thin remaining tooth sockets, bone grafting can build up your jawbone for successful implant placement. Even if your sinus cavities are unusually large, impinging on the upper jawbone area, bone grafting can provide a solution.
What is Bone Grafting for Dental Implants?
Rest assured, bone grafting for dental implants is a comfortable in-office procedure. Your oral surgeon will apply a natural or lab-made bone grafting material to thinning areas of the jawbone, creating a ‘scaffold’ for new bone growth. To ensure your comfort, the procedure is performed while you are sedated.
Types of Bone Grafts
Socket Preservation (Alveolar Ridge Preservation)
This technique fills the empty socket with grafting material immediately after tooth extraction to prevent bone loss.
Sinus Lift (Sinus Augmentation)
This procedure is used when the bone in the upper jaw near the molars and premolars is insufficient. It involves lifting the sinus membrane and adding graft material to the sinus floor. This procedure can sometimes be performed at the same time as implant placement.
Ridge Augmentation
This technique rebuilds the jaw’s natural contours by adding bone graft material to areas with significant bone loss. Your surgeon may choose powdered bone or
Block Bone Grafting
In cases of severe bone loss, a block of bone, typically harvested from another part of your body, is secured to the compromised area
Where Do You Get the Grafting Materials?
The source of the grafting material we use depends on several factors, including the type of graft performed, the location, and the amount of bone graft needed. Our oral surgeons carefully consider these factors to choose the most suitable and safe material for your specific case.
Autogenous Graft
If we need a larger quantity of bone, we may remove it from another area of your body, such as the chin, hip, shin, or the roof of the mouth. This ensures high biocompatibility and reduces the risk of rejection. However, it requires a second surgery and increases recovery time.
Allograft
Allografts also use human bone, but the bone comes from a human donor, usually a cadaver. The bone is then processed and sterilized for safety. This eliminates the need for a second surgery but has a slightly lower compatibility rate.
Xenograft
Xenografts are derived from animal sources, usually bovine (cow) or porcine (pig) bone, which is treated to ensure safety and compatibility. The abundant supply of these bones keeps the cost down and avoids the need for harvesting bone from the patient. However, they do have a slower integration process compared to autografts.
Alloplastic Graft
This involves synthetic materials, such as calcium phosphate or hydroxyapatite, to mimic natural bone. Alloplastic Grafts are customizable for unique situations and carry no risk of disease transmission, but they integrate more slowly than natural bone.
Many patients who were told they were not candidates for dental implants because they didn’t have sufficient jawbone mass may now be candidates if they undergo a bone grafting procedure at our office. To discuss your bone grafting options and how they can help you get the dental implants you dream about, contact our office! We will schedule a consultation with one of our oral surgeons.