Bone Grafting in Worcester: Restoring your jaw for successful Dental Implants
Over a period of time, the jaw bone associated with missing teeth atrophies or is reabsorbed. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants.
In these situations, most patients are not candidates for the placement of dental implants.
Today, we have the ability to grow bone where needed. This not only allows us to place dental implants of proper length and width, but it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and aesthetic appearance.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a bone graft?
This is an oral surgery that our dentists will recommend to individuals with a jaw that is not dense or thick enough. During this procedure, a piece of bone from another area of your body or jaw will be transplanted to your jawbone. It is most common to use bone from your own body, but it is possible to use artificial bone material if necessary. Your jawbone will mesh with the grafted bone tissue and provide you with strength and stability.
Who needs a bone graft?
If a person lacks sufficient bone density to support a dental implant or other restorations, a bone graft may be required. Bone grafts are most commonly used in dental implant procedures or specific periodontal treatments, particularly when bone loss has occurred due to gum disease.
Is a bone graft painful?
Most patients report that their bone grafting procedure was painless, as long as they followed the prescribed medication and antibiotic regimen.
Major Bone Grafting
Bone grafting can repair implant sites with inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease, or injuries. The bone is either obtained from a tissue bank or your own bone is taken from the jaw, hip or tibia (below the knee). Sinus bone grafts are also performed to replace bone in the posterior upper jaw. In addition, special membranes may be utilized that dissolve under the gum and protect the bone graft and encourage bone regeneration. This is called guided bone regeneration or guided tissue regeneration.
Major bone grafts are typically performed to repair defects in the jaws. These defects may arise as a result of traumatic injuries, tumor surgery, or congenital defects. Large defects are repaired using the patient’s own bone. This bone is harvested from a number of different sites depending on the size of the defect. The skull (cranium), hip (iliac crest), and lateral knee (tibia), are common donor sites. These procedures are routinely performed in an operating room and require a hospital stay.
How Missing Teeth Effect Your Health
When one or more teeth are missing, it can lead to jawbone loss at the site of the gap. This loss of jawbone can develop into additional problems, both with your appearance and your overall health. You may experience pain, problems with your remaining teeth, altered facial appearance, and eventually even the inability to speak and eat normally.
In the same way that muscles are maintained through exercise, bone tissue is maintained by use. Natural teeth are embedded in the jawbone and stimulate the jawbone through activities such as chewing and biting. When teeth are missing, the alveolar bone, or the portion of the jawbone that anchors the teeth in the mouth, no longer receives the necessary stimulation and begins to break down or resorb. The body no longer uses or “needs” the jawbone, so it deteriorates and goes away.
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Potential Consequences of Tooth and Jawbone Loss
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Problems with remaining teeth, including misalignment, drifting, loosening, and tooth loss
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Collapsed facial profile
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Limited lip support
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Skin wrinkling around the mouth
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Distortion of other facial features
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Jaw (temporomandibular joint [TMJ]) pain, facial pain, and headaches
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Difficulty speaking and communicating
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Inadequate nutrition as a result of the inability to chew properly and painlessly
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Sinus expansion
What is Bone Graft
Dr. Bui may recommend a bone grafting procedure before replacing your missing teeth to ensure your jawbone is strong enough to support implants and maintain stability. This oral surgery helps provide a solid foundation for your implants and natural teeth. Contact Crompton Park Oral Surgery today to schedule an appointment and learn more!
A bone graft is an oral surgery procedure performed when your jawbone lacks the density or thickness required for implants. During the procedure, bone tissue is taken from another area of your jaw or body and transplanted to the affected site. While the best results are typically achieved using bone from your own body, we can also use synthetic bone material or bone from a tissue bank if necessary. Over time, your jawbone will fuse with the grafted tissue, creating a stronger, more stable foundation for your implants.
What is the goal of bone grat?
A bone graft may be necessary if your jawbone lacks the density needed to support a dental implant or other treatments. After a tooth is lost or extracted, the jawbone begins to resorb, or deteriorate, at the extraction site. This bone loss must be addressed before a dental implant can be placed. While bone grafts are most commonly used in implant dentistry, they may also be required for certain periodontal treatments, especially when bone loss has occurred due to gum disease.
To learn more about bone grafting and determine if dental implants and bone grafting are right for your smile, contact us today. Dr. Bui and our team are here to help restore the health and function of your smile!
