Bone Grafting

Major & Minor Bone Grafting

Missing teeth over a period of time can cause your jaw bone to atrophy or resorb. This often results in poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for the placement of dental implants as well as long-term shifting of remaining teeth and changes to facial structure. Most patients, in these situations, are not candidates for dental implants.

Fortunately, today we have the ability to grow bone where it is needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, but it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and aesthetic appearance.

Bone grafting can repair implant sites with inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease, or injuries. The bone is frequently obtained from either a tissue bank utilizing cadaver or animal bone or your own native bone from other areas in your mouth.  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 to protect the bone graft, as well as encourage bone regeneration. This is called guided bone regeneration, or guided tissue regeneration.

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Minor Bone Grafting

For minor bone grafts, in the case of a lost tooth or teeth, sterile human, animal, or synthetic bone scaffolding granules are packed into the incision against the reduced bone area. The material is covered with a protective collagen membrane and typically closed with a few stitches. Over the next several weeks/months, your natural bone replaces this filler bone material, preserving the necessary bone mass to allow for a dental implant. The insertion of a dental implant will then preserve the bone indefinitely.

Minor bone grafts are routinely performed at The Center For Dental Excellence with our surgically-trained, Board-Certified Prosthodontist Dr. Michael Christian.

Major Bone Grafting

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 and/or bone obtained from a tissue bank. These procedures are often performed in an operating room and require a hospital stay.

In many situations, there are often alternatives to major bone grafts. To see if bone grafting or alternatives to grafting are suitable for your specific needs, schedule a consultation appointment with one of the doctors at the Center For Dental Excellence today.