Everything You Need to Know About Bone Grafting – Types and Procedure
Are you contemplating undergoing tooth implant surgery? If you are, there’s a chance that our dentist in Fort Lee, NJ, may suggest that you undergo a dental bone graft. The procedure might sound scary, but it is not. Bone grafting teeth is normal, and at times, it’s recommended before tooth implants are placed.
Bone grafting is a relatively old procedure that has been used for around a century. Today, bone grafting is a common procedure used in different medical fields. However, when our dentist in Fort Lee, NJ, employs bone grafting, it is to replace or bulk the existing bone, without which the implant will not be secured.
Bone Grafting 101
Dental bone grafting is considered a minor orthopedic procedure; our dentist performs to rebuild or repair your weakened bones using bone tissue transplants. Our dentist uses healthy bone tissue to recreate bone and supporting tissue.
In a nutshell, our dentist will make an incision to gain access to your jawbone and then graft the new bone tissue. After a short while, your cells will do the work and recreate new vibrant cells around the new bone, and just like that, you will have a new bone.
After you undergo the procedure, you will learn that bones are not as rigid as you might have previously assumed. In fact, bones in a skilled professional’s hands are malleable.
When Is Grafting Necessary?
Our dentist will always recommend a bone graft when you don’t have enough healthy bone to secure a tooth implant. So, our dentist will take an x-ray to view the state of your alveolar bone. The x-ray will reveal whether you have enough bone to support an implant.
In most cases, the bone will deteriorate because of the following reasons:
- Gum disease
- Face injury
- Developmental defects
- Unoccupied space after a tooth extraction
Types of Bone Grafting
The type of graft our dentist will use is dependent on the location of the tooth and the extent of the damage. In any case, these are the types of bone grafts:
- Autograft. This is a bone transplant that is taken from inside your body
- Allograft. This is a bone from a deceased donor or a cadaver that has been stored in a tissue bank
The common bone grafting procedures that our dentist performs are:
Block Bone Graft
If there are significant defects in your alveolar bone, our dentist will opt for a block bone graft to rebuild the affected section. The block of bone tissue is usually taken from the back of your jawbone.
Socket Graft
When you miss a tooth, your alveolar bone will deteriorate due to inactivity. So, the socket graft is performed to prevent bone loss after tooth loss. The bone transplant used in this case is an allograft (human donor) to prevent the socket from collapsing.
Sinus Lift
When you lose some molars in the upper jaw, the sinus may begin to reach down to occupy the space the molars used to occupy. So, a bone graft will ensure that the sinus doesn’t reach down to the space.
How Is Bone Grafting Carried Out?
Our dentist will determine the type of bone graft to use before you undergo surgery. Our dentist will administer general anesthesia to put you to sleep as our dentist works on your jawbone.
Our dentist will access the jawbone by making an incision in the skin above where the graft is needed. The shaping of the donated bone to fit the affected area follows. The dental bone graft will be held in place using either pins, plates, screws, wires, or cables.
Once our dentist is confident that the graft is secure, they will close the incision with stitches to aid healing.
What Happens After Bone Grafting?
Recovery after a bone graft will depend on the size of the graft and your overall health. Recovery will take almost two or three months or more, depending on your health and how you follow the post-surgery instructions.
Remember, smoking slows down healing and inhibits bone growth. In fact, bone grafts tend to fail at a higher rate in smokers. So, it would be best if you decided to say goodbye to smoking.
You can contact us at So Good Dental if you wish to know more about bone grafts.