How Does Dental Bone Grafting Work?
Posted on (not posted yet) by San Tan Oral Surgery |
 Dental bone grafting has made it possible for dentists to restore oral health and confidence by introducing new ways to solve old problems. At San Tan Oral Surgery in Gilbert, Arizona, we offer bone grafts to help restore your bone structure, allowing for dental solutions that were not possible in the past. There are various reasons for you to have a bone graft. Understanding how it works and talking to a qualified dentist can help you decide whether you are a candidate for the procedure.
What Is Dental Bone Grafting?
As children, we lose our “baby” teeth, which are then replaced with our permanent “adult” teeth. But what happens when you lose your permanent teeth through gum disease or an accident? Your bones become less dense and weaker. The body absorbs the bone material because it’s no longer needed.
The loss of bone tissue may eliminate tooth replacement options such as dental implants. Dental bone grafting is a minor procedure usually done in our dental office. It can help stimulate bone growth needed to restore oral health by stimulating bone growth to save a tooth or prepare your mouth for dental implants.
Uses for Dental Bone Grafting
Dental bone grafts are relatively new advancement. It has given people options that did not exist or only existed for people who could afford what used to be an expensive option. It is now a treatment available to the general population and at all phases of restorative dental care from teeth preservation to implants.
Saving Natural Teeth
A traumatic injury or severe periodontal disease can cause enough bone loss to risk tooth loss. Bone grafts can help support and save your teeth from extraction.
Preserving Tooth Extraction Areas
Sometimes tooth extractions are inevitable. At the time of removal, it is common for the dentist to perform a bone graft, allowing for future tooth replacement options.
Preparing for Dental Implants
Dental implants provide a better option than removable dentures. They permanently replace missing teeth. Dental implants require the target area to have good bone volume and density. Patients who suffer from bone loss may need to have a graft to rebuild the affected site. Bone grafting can help regenerate the bone making it possible to perform a dental implant.
Material Used for Grafting
The source for a bone graft can either come from the patient, a human donor, an animal, or from synthetic material. The term used for the grafting depends on the source material.
Autografting is when the material used for the graft comes from the recipient’s body. The source area is usually the jaw or hip one. Allografts are sourced from human donors. Xenografts are bone grafts done with material from an animal. And finally, alloplasts are graph done using synthetic materials that include calcium, phosphorous, and hydroxylapatite.
Naturally, the most optimal source for a bone graft is your own tissue. There are pros and cons to each graft type, however, and you can discuss each option at the time of your consultation.
How Does Bone Grafting Work?
Bone grafting is a simple yet fascinating minor surgical procedure that usually takes place in a dental office under local anesthesia. The material for the graft may come from the patient, a human cadaver, synthetic material, or an animal.
An incision is made and then the grafting material is added to the bone underneath the gum. Your body then grows new bone at the graft site, restoring structure and healthy bone to the area. The actual workings of the grafting depend on the type of bone graft you receive.
Socket Graft
The socket graph is the most common type of bone graft. Usually, the piece of bone used to make the graft material comes from a human donor. This is preventative to keep the bone in a socket from deteriorating.
Lateral Ridge Preservation Graft
Like the socket graft, the lateral ridge graft is preventative and is used to make the jawbone wider, preparing it for a future dental implant. This graft often helps reduce the need for a major bone graft in the future.
Block Bone Graft
Patients with a sizeable defect in the jaw may need a block bone graft. The donor material may either come from the patient or a substitute. If the graft comes from the patient, a small block of bone is harvested from the back of the jaw. The graft is screwed or tacked into place, priming it to become part of the patient’s body. It takes about four to six months to heal, and only then is the area ready for a dental implant.
Sinus Lift Bone Graft
Sometimes the implant area is located in the upper jaw near the maxillary sinus. In this case, a sinus lift bone graft may be needed to create enough space between the jaw and the sinus cavity so that the sinus cavity is not compromised.
Find Out More
Bone loss no longer means a permanent loss of your brilliant smile, facial aging, or your ability to eat certain foods. There are preventative and restorative grafting options to pave the way to restore your facial structures, your smile, and your confidence! Your journey starts with a phone call. Contact San Tan Oral Surgery in Gilbert, Arizona and schedule your consultation today. |
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