Bone Grafts
Bone loss in the jaws and around the teeth can be the result of missing teeth, periodontal disease, or trauma. This bone loss is more than a detriment to oral health and function; it can also alter facial appearance as the support for the natural contours of the face is diminished.
When a tooth is extracted, the natural stimulation to the underlying bone that is generated by the forces of biting or chewing is lost. The fact of the matter is that bone width can be reduced by as much as 25% in the first year following tooth loss.
By performing grafting procedures, the oral and maxillofacial surgeon can help restore the bone to its original dimensions to maintain facial esthetics, repair the damage caused by periodontal disease as well as facilitate the success of procedures such as the placement of dental implants. A bone graft provides a platform or “scaffolding” for new bone growth and the material for a bone graft can be derived from the patient, other donor sources or be comprised of synthetic, bone-like materials.
Several types of grafting procedures are performed depending upon the particular needs of the case.
A bone graft can be placed immediately upon the extraction of a tooth or some time after tooth loss. Placing a bone graft at the time of tooth removal reduces the amount of bone loss in the area to maintain the hard tissue support that is required for the future placement of a dental implant. When a bone graft is placed awhile after tooth loss, a separate surgical procedure is required to reflect the soft tissue, expose the underlying bone, place a graft and then suture the soft tissue back into place.
For patients lacking a sufficient amount of bone for a dental implant to replace a maxillary back tooth (upper back tooth), a procedure, which is known as a “sinus lift” is performed. During this surgical procedure, the sinus membrane is lifted, and bone graft material is added between the jaw and the floor of the sinus to provide the needed bone height to support a dental implant successfully.
In addition to bone grafting for purposes of ridge preservation or augmentation to allow for dental implants, an aesthetic ridge augmentation procedure to restore the natural contours of the bone is sometimes performed in preparation for fixed bridgework to achieve a more cosmetically pleasing result.
To guide tissue regeneration as well as protect the graft and promote healing, the oral and maxillofacial surgeon may place specialized membranes and biologically active materials over the grafting material.
Ridge Augmentation
The bone surrounding the roots of the teeth is known as the alveolar ridge. A ridge augmentation is a surgical procedure performed to restore the normal height and width of the alveolar ridge after it has shrunk or diminished due to tooth loss, denture wear, or trauma. One of the primary considerations surrounding a reduced and narrowed alveolar ridge is how it might affect the placement of a dental implant or another dental prosthesis.
A ridge augmentation procedure is performed by placing bone graft material into the tooth socket immediately after a tooth has been removed or in an existing deficient area to rebuild the shape of the gums and jaw. While a dental implant may be placed during a ridge augmentation procedure, it often gets placed once sufficient healing occurs. Given time to heal, the bone graft can effectively fuse with the surrounding bone while new bone within the graft develops.
In addition to bone grafting for ridge preservation to allow successful dental implant placement, aesthetic ridge augmentation procedures can also be performed in preparation for fixed bridgework to facilitate a more cosmetically pleasing result.
During a ridge augmentation procedure, our oral and maxillofacial surgeon may place specialized membranes and biologically active materials over the grafting material to guide tissue regeneration, protect the graft, and promote healing.
Socket Preservation
Socket preservation is a procedure designed to reduce the bone loss or resorption that follows teeth extraction. Its purpose is to maintain the integrity, volume, and natural contours of the alveolar bone surrounding and supporting the teeth.
As placed by our oral and maxillofacial surgeon, the graft serves as a scaffold— to help stimulate new bone growth and prevent the collapse of the socket. It’s helps provide adequate bone support for dental implants and ensure a long-lasting and stable result.
Typically performed following tooth extraction, this simple procedure does not add to extraction recovery time.
Advanced Grafting for Thin Jaw
Bone loss in the jaws and around the teeth may be the result of missing teeth, a congenital anomaly, periodontal disease, or trauma. More than just a detriment to oral health and function, bone loss can also affect one’s appearance by nature of the defect or diminished support for the natural contours of the face.
By performing grafting procedures, our oral and maxillofacial surgeon can help restore the bone to its original dimensions to improve facial esthetics, rebuild tissue support, and restore function. Bone grafting also facilitates the successful placement and longevity of dental implants. Without a bone graft, an insufficient alveolar ridge compromises implant aesthetics, stability, and long-term treatment outcomes.
A bone graft provides the platform or “scaffolding” for new bone growth. Today, bone graft materials come from a variety of sources. Bone for a graft might be collected from another area of the body, harvested from other natural sources, or made of synthetic materials. The choice depends upon the specific needs of the case.
How the graft is performed also varies. One technique, socket preservation, involves the placement of a bone graft directly into an extraction site. We may recommend a ridge expansion procedure when dealing with a horizontal bony insufficiency of alveolar ridges before implant placement. A maxillary sinus lift may be needed if there is insufficient ridge height in the posterior upper jaw. In some cases, a bone graft will include placing a special membrane over the surgical site and under the gum tissue to protect the bone graft and encourage bone regeneration. In cases where significant bony defects are present, an autogenous graft using the patient’s bone may be indicated.
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