Waiting to replace a lost tooth has its consequences. Bone resorption begins soon after your tooth is lost and makes it difficult, and sometimes impossible, to properly place dental implants. Luckily, bone grafting can overcome some of these natural changes and make you a candidate for dental implants.
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that is performed to preserve or regenerate bone in patients who have experienced resorption after tooth loss or need additional bone in their jaw to support a dental implant. Dental implants are the best way to restore missing teeth as they look and feel natural and can last a lifetime with proper care. Bone grafting is an initial step that can expand your options for tooth replacement.
Modern bone grafting was first developed in Germany in the early 1820s.
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To keep your options open, after tooth extraction, bone grafting can be performed at the same time to maintain the bone structure for a future dental implant.
Over time, jaw bone loss can lead to a “sunken” appearance and changes in your facial structure. With bone grafts and dental implants, your facial structure won’t change, and you can maintain your appearance.
Jaw bone loss will only get worse over time without treatment. To keep your options open after tooth extraction, bone grafting can be performed at the same time to maintain the bone structure for a future dental implant. Dental implants help stimulate and preserve the bone.
First, you will meet with your oral surgeon at a relaxed consultation. After an oral exam and review of your x-rays, a determination will be made if bone grafting is appropriate for your situation. Options regarding treatment and anesthesia will be discussed.
When you return for surgery, we will make sure you are comfortable throughout the procedure. There are multiple options for bone grafting, most of which are from a donor source and completely safe. To aid in healing your own blood product, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), may be added to the graft. The graft is protected with a membrane. Over the next few months, the grafted bone will be taken over by your own bone.
You’ll follow your oral surgeon’s recovery instructions, and your mouth will feel normal after 1-2 weeks. However, it will take up to 3-6 months for new, healthy bone material to heal around your graft. You’ll come back to our office for a few follow-ups during this time, and your oral surgeon will make sure your recovery is on track. Please avoid picking or pulling at anything in your mouth. Some graft particles will come out but not to worry, that's normal and only a tiny percentage of the overall graft.
Coverage for bone grafting is dependent on your insurance provider and your particular plan. Talk to your dental and medical insurance providers about your benefits to find out if your recommended oral surgery will be covered.
There are three main types of bone grafts: allografts, autografts, and synthetic bone grafts.
Allografts utilize tissue from a donor to replace missing bone. Certain measures are taken to ensure successful osseointegration.
Patients who receive an autograft will have bone tissue removed from another part of their body, typically a different part of their jaw bone, that will be used to restore lost volume in their jaw.
There is a wide range of biocompatible materials that can be used in place of donor tissue. Synthetic bone grafts offer a degree of flexibility when it comes to treatment, and are the best option for certain patients.
Regenerative materials such as Bone Morphogenic Protein, and Gem-21 may also be used in situations of severe bone loss to stimulate bone growth.
The cost of oral surgery varies from procedure to procedure based on the complexity of the surgery and the materials used. If your dental and/or medical insurance doesn’t cover your oral surgery, ask about financing options so you can create a payment plan that fits your needs, budget, and lifestyle.
The length of time required to perform a bone graft can vary depending on several factors. Where the graft is taking place, the size of the graft, and the type of synthetic biocompatible material used can all impact the duration of your procedure. Your oral surgeon will provide you with a thorough explanation of the treatment, and give you information about what to expect on the day of the procedure and how to properly prepare for it.
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon completes specialty training and additional education after dental school. Oral surgeons must complete at least 4 years of residency in a hospital, alongside medical residents, to gain expertise in oral surgery anesthesia and a variety of different medical specialties.
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