A solid foundation of bone is needed for dental implants to look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. But problems such as a long-term missing tooth or periodontal disease may compromise the required bone height and mass for viable and successful dental implant treatment. Here is where a dental implant bone graft can help.
Let us shed some light on bone grafting and how this can help you achieve a beautiful and confident smile.
What is a dental implant bone graft?
Before your dental implant surgery, your dentist will assess the health of your bone. This is one of the most important steps to ensure the success of your treatment. If found that there is less bone than required for dental implants, a bone graft is used to add volume and density to your bone.
A dental implant bone graft can be obtained from your own body, other human or animal tissue banks, or synthetic bone grafting materials. This is packed or augmented on the specific area to prepare it for a dental implant procedure.
When is bone grafting needed?
Bone grafting is the solution for bone loss. This may be included in your treatment plan if:
- It has been a while since you lost your tooth
- Extra jaw height is needed to support a dental implant
- Previous gum disease caused extensive bone loss
- Your jaw needs rebuilding to accommodate the dental implants
Advantages of getting a bone graft
Bone grafts have a success rate of up to 97%. They restore the condition of your jawbone before you start with tooth implant treatment. Additionally, bone grafts prevent complications such as an implant or bone fracture and improve the long-term success of your dental implants. With a healthy jawbone, you can enjoy eating the food you love without worrying about fractures.
Aside from health and safety, additional bone height and support also enhance the final look of dental implants. Replacing missing teeth with dental implants prevents the facial structures from sagging, enhances the natural contours of the face and creates a more attractive smile.
Types of bone grafts
There are several ways in which your dentist can integrate bone grafting into your treatment plan:
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Tooth socket preservation
A bone grafting material can be placed immediately after tooth extraction. This is packed into the socket to preserve the bone structure.
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Bone augmentation
A thinner and lower bone height is a natural occurrence for teeth that have been missing for a while. A dental bone graft can augment the ridge, increasing its height and volume to accommodate a future dental implant. This is also an excellent solution for generalised bone loss after periodontal disease.
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Sinus lift
The maxillary sinus is one of the primary considerations when getting dental implants for the upper back teeth. This is just above that area, and the risk of penetrating it is possible during implant treatment. Your dentist can avoid this scenario by raising the sinus using bone grafting.
What happens after a bone graft?
Once the bone grafting material is in place, the next step is recovery. Usually, it takes an average of 3 to 9 months for a dental implant bone graft to heal. After that, your dentist can work on placing your implant to renew your smile.
While the extra step of getting a dental bone graft before treatment with dental implants may take longer than usual, this is a necessary step towards creating a smile that you will love for life.
Discover More About Dental Implants and Bone Grafting
After your initial assessment with our dental implant team at My Local Dentists, we can determine if you will need bone grafting as an adjunct to your treatment. Call us today to learn more!
References
Mayo Clinic – Periodontitis
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/periodontitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354473#:~:text=Periodontitis%20is%20a%20severe%20gum,bone%20that%20supports%20your%20teeth.
PubMed – Bone Grafts and Substitutes in Dentistry: A Review of Current Trends and Developments
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34070157/
PubMed – Autogenous bone graft: donor sites and techniques
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22159859/#:~:text=Autogenous%20cancellous%20bone%20graft%20provides,voids%20and%20augmenting%20fracture%2Dhealing.
PubMed – Bone Grafts in Dentistry
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3722694/
PubMed – Success rate of dental implants inserted in autologous bone graft regenerated areas: a systematic review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3530967/#:~:text=The%20success%20rate%20of%20implants%20placed%20in%20onlay%20graft%20regenerated,(range%2084%E2%80%9397%25).
Colgate – How Socket Preservation Helps After A Tooth Extraction
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/tooth-removal/socket-preservation-after-tooth-extraction
PubMed – Sinus augmentation bone grafts for the provision of dental implants: report of clinical outcome
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12814312/
My Cleveland Clinic – Dental Bone Graft
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21727-dental-bone-graft#:~:text=Though%20you%20will%20probably%20feel,and%20your%20body’s%20healing%20capacity.