Bone Grafting


Bone Grafting Explained:

digital illustration of the bone grafting process

Whenever a patient loses a tooth, the jawbone associated with the missing tooth shrinks. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In these situations, most patients are not candidates for placement of dental implants without a bone graft.

Today, we can grow bone where needed. This not only allows us to place implants of proper length and width, but it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and aesthetic appearance.

The Beauty in Bone Regeneration 

Bone grafting can repair dental implant sites with inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease, or injuries. The bone is either obtained from a tissue bank or your own bone is taken from the jaw, hip, or tibia (below the knee). Sinus bone grafts are also performed to replace bone in the posterior upper jaw. In addition, special membranes may be utilized that dissolve under the gum and protect the bone graft and encourage bone regeneration. This is called guided bone regeneration or guided tissue regeneration.

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What will the Procedure Be Like? 

Major bone grafts are typically performed to repair defects of the jaws. These defects may arise as a result of traumatic injuries, tumor surgery, or congenital defects. Large defects are repaired using the patient’s own bone. This bone is harvested from a number of different sites depending on the size of the defect. The skull (cranium), hip (iliac crest), and lateral knee (tibia) are common donor sites. These procedures are routinely performed in an operating room and require a hospital stay.