Bone Graft

When a Dental Bone Graft is Necessary

When bone is lost due to infection, aging, tooth extraction, or atrophy of the jaw, a dental bone graft may become necessary. When the jaw shrinks in size, there is less bone structure available to fit a set of dentures or insert a dental implant to save a tooth.

Unfortunately, often there is not quite enough bone for dental implants to be optimally located.

A dental bone graft will stimulate the jaw bone to regrow with new, healthy bone tissue so that the jaw and surrounding teeth maintain their shape and stay in place, and then further treatment, like an implant, can be done.

You may lose bone due to trauma or most often because of advanced gum disease. Advanced gum disease or periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that destroys the gums and bone around teeth and which can ultimately cause tooth loss.

Also, once natural teeth are removed, bone soon begins to resorb. You may not have realized, but your tooth roots do far more than just secure your natural teeth. Each time you bite or chew using your own teeth, the pressures and sensations are transmitted through the crown of the tooth, down into the tooth root and out into the bone around the root.

These sensations ensure that your body knows once old bone cells begin to die off that they must be replaced. When natural teeth are removed, the sensations are lost, and the bone in the area gradually remodels as old bone cells are no longer replaced.

A lot of this bone loss occurs in the first year after tooth loss which is why your dental implant dentist will strongly suggest you consider dental implants sooner rather than later after natural teeth are removed.

Sometimes a bone graft is needed because the bone in that area of your mouth is just naturally thinner because of the overall shape and structure of your skull. This is often the case when dental implants are needed to replace upper back teeth, and which are near to the sinus cavities.

The sinus cavities are air-filled spaces near to your nose, and these spaces can increase with age, and some people just naturally have larger sinus cavities than others. It’s extremely common to need a procedure called a sinus lift or sinus augmentation when restoring upper back teeth with implants.

Will a Bone Graft Delay Implant Treatment?

This depends on how much bone is required. Sometimes, if only a minimal amount of bone is needed, then your implant dentist may be able to place it at the same time as the dental implants. Otherwise, bone grafting is a stand-alone procedure and usually, several months are needed for the bone graft to integrate fully and to heal.

You could need to wait for another 3 to 6 months or longer before your dental implants can be placed. It might be irritating and disappointing to have your dental implant treatment delayed, but bone grafting is an important procedure, and it’s well worth the wait.

What to Expect during Bone Grafting Treatment?

Whichever type of bone graft you choose, you can rest assured your bone grafting procedure will be as smooth and as comfortable as possible. If you need a sinus lift, your implant dentist will make a small incision into your gums to expose the bone. Next, a tiny hole is cut into the bone and which reveals the membrane separating your sinus cavities and your jawbone.

The membrane is lifted upward, creating a space into which additional bone material is packed. Another type of treatment is called a ridge augmentation, where more bone is added to the bony ridge that used to support your teeth, increasing its height and width as needed.

It’s a great treatment for ensuring your jawbone has the correct contours to support your dental implants and will make sure they look and feel wonderful.

Recovering from a Bone Graft

Recovering from a bone graft surgery is generally uncomplicated, but it does take time for the new bone to form after grafting. Immediately after the procedure, there will be swelling, some bruising, small bleeding, and some minor pain. If any of these symptoms become excessive, you should contact our office for advice. After the graft, eat liquids or soft foods as instructed by our doctors and take pain medications as prescribed. Keep the mouth clean by brushing, flossing, and rinsing two or three times daily.