Bone graft for dental implants: what’s to know if you need one

A bone graft for dental implants is necessary when there is not enough bone structure to support an implant. After someone loses a tooth due to damage or trauma, the bone deteriorates and becomes weak over time.

A bone graft for dental implants is a procedure for lifting and building up the bone of the tooth. Without a solid and stable bone structure, placing a dental implant is impossible. This is why bone grafting is necessary for placing a dental implant securely and smoothly.

There is nothing to worry about if your doctor wants to perform a bone graft procedure before putting a dental implant. It is a safe, common, and straightforward procedure that allows you to restore your smile.

This article contains all the information regarding bone grafts from the procedure to its types, the process, and why it may be necessary before getting an implant. Read below to learn everything about the importance of bone grafting for dental implants.

What is a bone graft for dental implants?

Bone grafting is a process to supplement the deficiency of bone to uplift its structure. For a tooth to function normally, its structure and positioning are extremely important. When you lose a tooth, the bone supporting it called the alveolar bonealso starts to decline. For a successful implant, this hollow space needs to be filled so that insertion of bone material is possible. The process of bone grafting entails three steps:

Tooth Extraction if necessary
Gum opening and cleaning the bone area
Placing the bone graft material

Tooth Extraction

If the tooth is in bad shape and extraction may be necessary, the dentist takes necessary measures. A local anesthetic numbs the tooth and surrounding gums to make sure the patient does not feel a thing. Moreover, if a tooth is already missing and the patient wants an implant procedure, the dentist skips this part and proceeds to the grafting process.

Gum opening and cleaning the bone area

The next step in bone grafting is opening the gum tissue surrounding the tooth. By doing this, the alveolar bone area is obvious and it is easy for the dentist to determine the amount of graft. Then it is time to properly clean and disinfect the bone area. It is made sure that there are no signs of decay before the insertion of graft material.

Placing the graft material

Before proceeding with this step, knowledge about types of grafts is necessary. There are four types of bone graft materials: autograft, allograft, xenograft, and alloplastic. An autograft method involves taking bone material from another body part to the affected tooth bone. Allograft on the other hand allows dentists to receive graft material from a cadaver source, i.e. a dead body. Xenografting refers to sourcing graft material via animals while alloplastic is a graft material made from man-made matters. Moving on, the insertion of graft material takes place.

source: youtube/Clínica Médico Dental Pardiñas

What are the methods of bone grafting?

According to American Dental Association, a graft is a process of inserting artificial or natural material to restore the lost bone structure. Losing one or multiple teeth because of decay, injury, or some other reason leads to the thinning of tooth bone. Loss in the volume of the bone affects the jaw bone and even causes alignment issues. There is a lot at stake if you leave a missing tooth for a long time because it can cause many oral health issues. From decay to cracked teeth, a dental implant is an effective and long-lasting solution to restore your teeth.

One needs to choose an experienced and qualified aesthetic dentist for dental implants. A thorough dental examination is crucial before dental implants to identify if someone needs bone grafting. Every person’s situation is unique and may demand a completely different solution so finding what suits them best is key. There are four types of bone grafting methods:

Sinus lifting
Ridge Augmentation
Socket Preservation
Periodontal grafting

The severity and location of damage are two very important aspects to know the kind of bone grafting one needs. Dentists determine the kind of bone grafting one needs by assessing the location of affected teeth. For instance, if someone loses one or several teeth from the upper back area, the maxillary cavity is affected. For this particular situation, dentists opt for a sinus lift before dental implant surgery.

Here is what you must know before going in for a dental implant surgery.

Sinus Lifting

Sinus lifting is a common bone grafting method for patients with missing upper posterior teeth. The tooth loss causes the maxillary sinuses to slip down and take over the bone area. If the patient wishes to get a dental implant, the only way is to lift the sinus cavities before the insertion of bone material. It is a completely safe and effective procedure that improves overall oral health and solves any alignment issues.

Ridge Augmentation

When someone loses a tooth, over time the bone of the tooth “Alveolar bone” begins to recede. It not only recedes but also begins to lose volume and before getting an implant, the bone must function normally. Normal functioning of the bone requires it to be back to its original state. Ridge Augmentation is a process in which dentists thicken bone density so that it can go back to how it was and support an implant. This process is fairly common when there is bone recession due to tooth loss.

Socket Preservation

Preservation of the bone after tooth extraction or tooth loss is immensely important for the alignment of the jaw. Socket preservation is a process in which dentists immediately graft the bone after tooth extraction. The socket area is left for a few months until it is fully healed. After the healing process, the tooth is ready for a dental implant because regeneration of bone takes place.

Periodontal grafting

Gum disease and other types of dental issues may cause teeth to erode and get weak. Loose teeth expose them to several problems such as cavities, bite problems, and cracks. Periodontal grafting is a process to provide support to the tooth by restoring its structure and reducing mobility.

Who is an ideal candidate for bone grafting?

To begin with, someone with missing teeth due to decay or injury is a potential candidate for dental implant placement. Further on it depends on the severity of the damage and how much the natural bone is affected. If the bone is badly affected and cannot support a dental implant, a bone graft is necessary. The severity of damage and the location help dentists determine the method of bone grafting. The four types of bone grafting include sinus lifting, ridge augmentation, socket preservation, and periodontal grafting.

Best bone graft material for a dental implant?

The best material for dental implant bone graft procedure is Hydroxyapatite containing calcium phosphate. It is a synthetic material and it has a success rate higher than any other material such as calcium carbonate. The reason for its success is that human bone largely consists of calcium phosphate. Therefore, the tooth bone easily accepts it and there are no complications in the regeneration process.

How long does it take to heal from bone grafting surgery?

The healing period lasts from three weeks to 3 months depending on the age and severity of the damage. Having said that, the duration differs for everyone according to their situation.

FAQ about bone graft for dental implants

Bone grafts can be a difficult subject to understand so we want you to not have any doubts about them. We will answer here briefly about some frequently asked questions. We are sure they will help you further understand this procedure. If we somehow missed something and you are still wondering about something, get in touch with us and we’ll be glad to help you!

Maximum time between the bone graft and dental implant

The maximum time between the bone graft process and dental implant surgery is two to three months. It also depends on the severity of damage and it may take some patients to take longer to recover.

Is bone graft necessary before a dental implant?

It depends on the level of damage and how much bone structure is present. If there is complete bone loss, a bone graft is necessary to support a dental implant. If the bone is not affected and it is functioning normally, dentists skip this process.

Are bone grafts painful?

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure but there is nothing to worry about because an oral surgeon uses local anesthesia to sedate the tooth. With modern technology, there is a high chance that you won’t feel a thing and can easily have a beautiful smile.

What is the survival rate of dental implant bone graft?

According to research, composite bone grafts have a 99.6% survival rate while allografts have a 90.9% survival rate. Block grafts have a survival rate 98.9% survival rate and it is among the most common grafting methods.

Are bone graft dental implants available in Turkey?

Dentistry is among the many perks of visiting Turkey. Bone grafting is a common procedure before putting in dental implants if there is excessive bone loss. Picking an experienced and qualified dentist is key in this matter and we at Dentfix can make the process much easier for you. Our representatives are 24/7 available to give you support if you are facing any dental dilemmas. You can get in touch with our 24/7 active call center team HERE

https://www.ada.org/publications/cdt/glossary-of-dental-clinical-terms#gg