Bone Grafting
Dentist Salem, OR
 When you think of the term "bone grafting," you most likely are thinking about applying a bone graft to an arm or a leg after an injury. In dentistry, however, bone grafting is extremely important if you do not have enough jawbone to support dental implants. Here is some information from Fairmount Dental Center about bone grafting and why you may need the procedure before you have dental implants done.
What Is Bone Grafting? Understanding the Basics Your body is a marvelous healing instrument. It can heal itself in many cases with some support. Think about a friend or a relative who has broken their arm. As long as the arm is in a cast, the body does not need any help to regenerate new bone. That is because it already contains all the materials needed to heal the arm.
Bone grafts use bone tissue placed in areas of the body where new growth is needed to heal fully or strengthen them. Usually, a sliver of bone is implanted in the area where additional bone growth is needed. To implant the bone, a doctor or dentist makes a small incision, inserts the bone graft, and then closes the incision. Usually, it takes a few months for the new bone tissue and the old bone to grow and fuse together, making your bone as strong as it was previously.
Types of Bone Grafts: Autografts, Allografts, and More There are different types of bone grafts that dentists can use to help their patients regrow jawbone tissue. One of the most common types of bone graft is an autograft, which means that our dentist takes bone tissue directly from your body to use elsewhere, such as your jawbone. Usually, our dentist will take a small sample of bone tissue from a large, dense bone in your body, such as around your hip or thigh bone.
An allograft is a type of bone tissue that dentists use from a donor. Usually, the donor bone tissue is from an adult who has died, but there are times when our dentist may be able to use donor bone tissue from a living donor. Regardless of who the donor is, allografts are cleaned, medically sterilized, and checked prior to being placed in a patient.
You may also be given a xenograft, which means the bone graft is from an animal. Xenografts are common in dentistry. Just like allografts, xenografts are sterilized and checked thoroughly before a bone graft is done.
Finally, some dentists prefer to use synthetic materials that imitate bone to stimulate bone growth. These grafts are called synthetic bone or bone substitute.
The Importance of Bone Grafting for Dental Implants It is safe to say that dental implants have revolutionized prosthetic dentistry. Instead of relying on dentures or bridges to replace missing teeth, both of which have drawbacks, dentists and patients can choose to get dental implants that look and feel as close to their natural teeth as possible. Dental implants last throughout your lifetime, and because they anchor directly into your jawbone, they allow your jaw to retain its shape and strength.
While dental implants are revolutionary, one of the main reasons people may not be eligible for implants is that they may not have enough jawbone tissue to support the implant. Each dental implant has a metal screw that attaches to your jawbone. Also, a prosthetic tooth sits on top of the implant. Your jawbone has to be healthy and strong to support the titanium screw for your implant.
If your jawbone is not strong enough to support dental implants, our dentist can use bone grafts to strengthen your jawbone so that you can get dental implants. The bone grafting procedure can take a few months, but it will virtually ensure a successful dental implant.
Bone Grafting Procedures: What to Expect Before you can have a bone grafting procedure, you and our dentist need to have a consultation about what type of dental implant is best for your problem and how much bone tissue you have to support an implant. Dentists can use examinations, X-rays, and scans to determine the overall health of your jaw and the amount of bone tissue you have in the area where your dental implant will be.
On the day of the procedure, our dentist will select bone grafts to use. You will know beforehand how many bone grafts you will need. The dentist will make a small incision in the area where you need additional bone and place the graft inside the incision. Usually, our dentist will place a membrane over the bone graft to hold it in place, promote healing, and protect the graft. You will come back for follow-up appointments so our dentist can determine how well the bone graft is working to make new bone. Once you are fully healed, you are ready for the next step, which is usually the placing of a dental implant screw into your jawbone.
Risks and Complications of Bone Grafting While bone grafting is very common, you need to understand that, like any medical procedure, it has risks and complications. One of the most common complications is that you could get an infection from the procedure. You may also have a bone graft failure. There is always a chance the bone will not be strong enough to support the implant even after healing. Less common risks would include heavy bleeding and intense pain after the bone graft.
Bone Grafting for Periodontal Disease: A Critical Treatment Bone grafts are an amazing way to give you back your missing teeth and allow you to get permanent dental implants to replace those teeth. However, bone grafts can be used by dentists for other issues in your jawbone.
If you have periodontal disease, you have an infection of your gums. Over time, especially if you are not receiving treatment for your gum disease, you can get an infection in your jawbone, which can cause bone loss. Many people, after they receive treatment for their gum disease, need bone grafts to restrengthen their jaw and prevent jaw fractures. Bone grafts are a vital way our dentist can keep your jawbone as strong as possible.
Not sure you are ready for dental implants or a bone grafting procedure? We can help. Reach out to Fairmount Dental Center today at (503) 362-8364 to schedule an appointment. |
