Dental bone grafts are sometimes required to build up the jawbone prior to having dental implants. The bone is grafted or added to specific areas in the jawbone, to either widen the existing bone, or to increase the height. The bone can be grafted from another area in your body, it can be donor bone, or it may be made from an artificial material.
Part of your initial consultation for dental implants will be to determine if there is sufficient bone in the jaw to support the implants. This is done using dental x-rays and possibly CT scans. If you do need a bone graft then this is nothing to be concerned about as it is a routine procedure.
Which is the Best Type of Bone Graft?
It can be advantageous to use your own bone as there is little risk of it being rejected, but this can mean the donor site will be quite sore until it heals. Donor bone is usually bovine, although it can be human. Donor bone is rigorously tested and is sterilized to make sure it is completely safe for use. Artificial bone substitutes often contain special proteins or a type of mesh to help stimulate the production of natural bone, and over time these materials are gradually absorbed into the body.
Your dentist will discuss all the possible options for bone grafts with you so you can make an informed choice. The graft is normally carried out under local anesthetic as the procedure is very straightforward. Afterwards you will be provided with antibiotics and pain medication, and an antibacterial mouthwash to use while the bone graft heals.
It is often necessary to wait several months for the bone to fully integrate with the existing bone in your jaw. Once it has been fully integrated then the implants can be placed. Sometimes it might be possible for your dentist to place the graft and the dental implant at the same time, but this depends on the type of bone graft, and the type of dental implant being used.
Dr. Salimy is a dentist in Newport Beach CA that does bone grafts
