When bone loss occurs in the jaw area, a dental bone graft may be necessary. It is an essential procedure performed before a dental implant, especially when bone loss becomes detrimental to the teeth and the integrity of the jaw.
In this article, you will learn about what to expect from your dentist during this procedure, important aspects of a dental bone graft, its different types, and many more.
What A Dental Bone Graft Does
A dental bone graft aims to add density and volume to areas in the jaw where bone loss is present. The material for this bone graft may come from a few sources: your own body (autogenous), a human tissue bank (allograft), or an animal tissue bank (xenograft). In rare circumstances, it may also be synthetic (alloplastic).
How A Dental Bone Graft Works
A dental bone graft is meant to assist your body in repairing itself. You can imagine a graft as a scaffold where the bone tissue can regenerate.
Many dental professionals add platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to a dental bone graft. This procedure uses an amount of your blood for tissue healing and growth.
Who Benefits from Dental Bone Grafts
A dental bone graft is necessary for people who suffer from bone loss. In addition, you may benefit from this procedure if you are in any of these situations:
- Bone loss from a gum disease
- Jaw rebuilding before dentures
- Pre-dental implant
- Tooth extraction
Types of Dental Bone Graft
Periodontal Bone Graft
When a gum disease causes a severe infection, the affected dental bone tends to become soft. This is why a periodontal bone graft may be necessary to support the tooth and reduce its mobility.
Ridge Augmentation
This type of graft increases the volume and width of your jaw bone so it can serve as a solid foundation for dental implants or other restorative materials. You can benefit from ridge augmentation, especially if you have been missing teeth for a while. This is because the jaw area becomes thinner over time due to bone loss.
Sinus Lift
If you lose your upper back teeth, the maxillary sinuses can drop and fill the spaces previously occupied by the teeth’s roots. In this situation, your cosmetic dentist or periodontist will perform a sinus lift to put the sinus back to its original position. This allows future dental implants to have a more stable foundation.
Socket Preservation
Also called ridge preservation, this procedure places the graft in the socket after tooth extraction. This aims to fill the space immediately and prevent the sides of the tooth socket from caving in.
Conclusion
If you are planning to undergo dental bone grafting before an implant, it is crucial to let the graft heal first before placing the implant. Remember that recovery times differ from person to person, so you must discuss these details with your dentist. Performing a dental implant and bone graft simultaneously is possible, but success depends on the specific situation.
Dental bone grafts are a common procedure that is relatively safe for anyone. Do not hesitate to bring up any concerns you may have with your dental service provider before undergoing this procedure.
If you are looking for a reliable dentist in Marietta, GA, reach out to Kabani Dental. We focus on cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, and implant dentistry. Schedule an appointment now!