Reasons For Bone Grafting
Dental implants have a 98% success rate for patients with adequate bone density and quality. If you have experienced conditions that compromise the quality of your bone, you should consider a bone graft. The goal is to give previously ineligible patients the chance to experience the wonderful benefits of dental implants. Bone grafts can help patients who have insufficiencies caused by:| • | Untreated tooth loss. If tooth loss is left untreated, the bone in your jaw will begin to deteriorate. |
| • | Gum disease. Gum disease is an infection caused by bacteria. Over time, the infection will cause the supportive bone to decay. |
| • | Injury or trauma. Trauma to the face or jaw can cause fractures, chips, and weakened bone. |
| • | Long-term denture use. Unlike dental implants, dentures do not provide the stimulation needed to prevent bone deterioration. |
Types of Bone Grafting Materials
You have several options for bone grafting material. These include:| • | Autograft, bone taken from other areas of your body. |
| • | Allografts, bone is taken from a donor. |
| • | Xenografts, bone taken from a genetically dissimilar organism. |
| • | Synthetic, biocompatible material created under laboratory conditions. |
The type of material chosen depends on each circumstance. Both harvested and synthetic materials can be kept in our office, and used for your procedure.
Bone Grafting Procedure
During a bone graft procedure, we will use a local anesthetic to eliminate pain and discomfort. Sedation is also available to eliminate anxiety.The procedure itself is fairly simple. Dr. Todd Jorgenson will make an incision in the gum tissue to expose the bone. The grafting material is then attached to the bone, and the tissue is sutured.
After a Bone Graft
After your bone graft, you will be given post-operative instructions to reduce strain and damage to the surgical site. You may also be given pain medication, antibiotics, and an antibacterial mouthwash.For the next three to nine months, the graft material will harden and fuse to your existing bone. We want to make sure your bone is healthy before the implantation process can begin. The amount of time integration may vary depending on the location and size of the graft. In cases of minor graft, we may be able to place the implant at the same time.
