What is Bone Graft:
Bone loss in the jaw is one of the most serious consequences of missing teeth. It begins as soon as a tooth is lost. This can change the shape of your jaw, affect your bite, and make dental implants more difficult to place. That’s when bone grafting is necessary.
Types of Bone Grafts:
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Autograft – uses your own bone when natural healing and high compatibility are a priority.
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Allograft – donor bone from a trusted bone bank. This avoids the need for a second surgical site.
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Xenograft or synthetic graft – animal-based or lab-created material.
Grafting Technique:
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Ridge Augmentation – Once the entire surgical area has been numbed by local anesthetic, an incision in the gum down to the bone is created. The bone graft material is gently placed inside the patient’s jawbone and closed with sutures. As the site heals, the added granular bone material fuses entirely with the patient’s own jawbone, forming a stronger and denser bone base in which to insert a dental implant.
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Sinus Lift – A sinus lift is a surgery that adds bone to your upper jaw in the molar areas. The added bone is placed between your jaw and the maxillary sinuses.
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Ridge Preservation – After removal of tooth, the bone that holds the tooth in place (the socket) can be prevented by immediate grafting of bone. The socket is filled with bone, covered with membrane to encourage your body’s natural ability to repair the socket. With this method, the socket heals eliminating shrinkage and collapse of surrounding facial structures. The newly formed bone in the socket also provides a foundation for an implant.
