Bone Grafting

Necessity of Bone Graft for Dental Implant

To understand the importance of dental bone grafting, you need to first understand what dental implants are. Dental implants are the most effective means of replacing missing teeth — this is a procedure in which the dentist lodges titanium or metallic framework into your jawbone. Over time, your jaw bone grows around the dental implant, thereby rooting it in place and making it a part of your body. As such, the dental implant serves as a foundation on which the dentist can attach dental crowns, dental bridges, or other replacements for your teeth. As such, a dental implant is the strongest and most effective way to replace your teeth.

The biggest issue, however, is that you already need sufficient bone structure to get dental implants. But when you lose your teeth, you also start losing your bone structure. Without a tooth to support, your bone stops growing due to the lack of stimulus. Within a year of your tooth loss, you also lose about 25% of your jaw bone structure. As such, if you’ve waited a while before considering dental implants, you may not have sufficient bone structure for the procedure.

That’s why bone graft for dental implants is necessary. If you don’t have enough bone structure, the dentist uses grafting material from other sources to facilitate jaw bone regeneration. The dentist plants the grafting material within the empty socket of the missing tooth. In a few months, your bone starts growing and eventually replaces the grafting material. That, in turn, enables you to get dental implants.

Bone Graft Surgery Procedure

It’s impossible to discuss all the specific steps involved in bone graft surgery because it varies from situation to situation. The exact steps of the procedure will depend on the type of bone grafting material, the location of the bone graft, and other such factors. The grafting material facilitates bone regeneration and eventually replaces the grafting material.

However, the following is a brief overview of the steps involved in the bone graft procedure:

• The dentist will examine your teeth and oral cavities using x-rays and other screening devices and tests. This will be done to examine the condition of your jawbone to determine if you’re suitable for dental implants.
• Once the dentist has examined the condition of your jawbone, they’ll discuss your bone grafting options. You can get bone grafting material from another part of your body, another individual, animals, or from synthetic materials. The dentist will discuss all of these options with you.
• The dentist will make an incision on your gum tissues above the empty socket of the missing tooth.
• The dentist will place the grafting material within the gum tissues so it can facilitate bone regeneration.
• The incision will be stitched up and allowed to heal.
• The dentist may also use some collagen or other such materials to fasten the pace of bone regeneration.
• Your bone will heal over several months and you’ll have to visit your dentist often so they can track the progress.

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Bone Grafting Q&A