Bone grafting is a form of dental surgery that is often used in conjunction with dental implants. Grafting can help patients who lack sufficient bone mass to support implants. If you require bone grafting before you have implants placed, be sure to discuss the procedure with your implant dentist beforehand.
Why Is Bone Grafting Necessary?
Dental implants are placed directly into the jawbone, providing support for the visible portions of your replacement teeth. If you have had teeth missing for some time, you might have experienced atrophy in your jawbone where the missing teeth were located. This atrophy occurs because the roots of your teeth stimulate the jawbone to grow when you chew. Without the roots to stimulate the tissues to grow, the bone mass can gradually diminish. This is why people who have worn dentures for many years often experience changes in the shape of their face, to the point where their dentures must be refitted and their bottom jaw becomes closer to the top jaw.
Dental implants replace both the visible, biting and chewing surfaces of the teeth and the roots that anchored them. For the implants to be successful, you must have sufficient bone mass to anchor the artificial roots. Bone grafting supplies this foundation for your implants.
How Bone Grafting Works
In a bone grafting procedure, an oral surgeon places a piece of bone in the area that requires reinforcement. Often, this bone is harvested from elsewhere in the patient’s body, reducing the possibility of rejection. Some grafts, though, are done with cadaver bone, and occasionally synthetic materials can take the place of natural bone. The graft is left to heal for a period of time to ensure the graft bonds to the existing bone.
Once the graft is sufficiently healed, the oral surgeon can place the root portion of the implants. With the support of the bone graft, the dental implants will bond to the jawbone, providing a strong foundation for your final, permanent implants.
If you would like more information on the bone grafting procedure, please contact the office of Dr. Chris Tye, serving Bedford and neighboring areas, at 817-552-3223 to schedule a consultation.
