Bone Grafting
Dental implants are an excellent treatment option for patients who are missing one or more teeth. Some patients who are considering dental implants, may lack the necessary bone structure and require bone grafting. Bone grafting is a common surgical procedure used for patients prior to the placement of a dental implant. The procedure works by transplanting bone tissue to repair or restore the jawbone.
Types of Grafts
Different types of bone grafting can be performed. The best type of grafting will vary from patient to patient depending on location of the missing tooth and amount of damage. Various types of grafts are summarized below:
- Socket Graft: This is the most common type of bone graft. It aims to prevent the atrophy of the alveolar bone and human donor bone is commonly used. The graft material is placed into the socket, preventing the socket from collapsing.
- Lateral Ridge Preservation Graft: A lateral ridge preservation graft increases the jawbone’s width. This ensures the jawbone can properly support the implant. This type of graft often uses human donor bone as well.
- Block Bone Graft: When a patient has significant bone loss in their jawbone, the block bone graft is commonly performed. During the procedure, a small “block” or piece of bone is obtained from the back of the patient’s own jaw. The graft is then placed in the desired area and secured using small titanium screws.
- Sinus Lift Procedure: For this type of graft, the dental professional often uses equine or horse bone in order to expand the graft. The equine bone may also be combined with human donor bone. In many cases, this type of graft is used for patients who need an implant in their upper jaw and have inadequate jawbone structure.
Equine Bone
Patients are often surprised to learn that equine bone can be used for grafting. There are two main benefits of using equine bone. It is similar to human bone and dissolves at a slower rate compared to human bone. The equine bone is commonly used to create a support structure and promote the growth of additional bone in the sinus. The sinus cavity is rather complex and can take 8 months to a year for patients to heal completely.
Pain
In general, a bone graft should not be painful. It is an outpatient procedure which is commonly performed in dentistry. Patients are typically sedated throughout the procedure to ensure they do not experience pain. As the anesthetic wears off, it is normal for patients to experience discomfort and swelling. These symptoms will improve as the mouth heals and can typically be managed with an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Recovery
It typically takes about 4-6 months for the bone graft to fuse to the natural jawbone. The healing process can take up to a year for more complex cases. During the healing process, patients will have frequent checkups to evaluate how the grafting is healing and determine when it can accomodate the implant.
Patients who want to learn more about bone grafting should contact the office for a consultation. The team can evaluate your mouth to determine if you may be a good candidate for a bone graft to enhance the jawbone and properly support a dental implant.
