Dental Implant Bone Grafts
Bone grafting for a dental implant is a procedure that may be performed when a dentist determines that you do not have sufficient bone structure to support your teeth. It is a procedure that can be performed before the placement or a dental implant, dentures or bridges. Bone grafting may also be performed to repair jaw bone fractures. The objective in bone grafting is to allow bone tissue to reproduce around an implanted bone with the goal that the bone tissue and implanted bone will fuse together. The benefit of having adequate bone structure to support healthy teeth is critical for the repair of teeth and jaw structures in many cases.
There are three types of dental implants that may be used in bone grafting, including:
- Autogenus bone refers to bone that is removed from one part of the body and transferred to the jaw. Typical bodily areas for transfer include the chin and hips.
- Allograft bone is defined by bones that are removed from deceased individuals who have donated their bones for purposes such as bone grafting. Deceased individuals are screened through their medical history to ensure that they are free from contagious diseases.
- Animal bone refers to bone that is derived from animals, such as cows, that have the same bone makeup as humans.
The procedure is an out patient procedure, only takes a few hours, and does not require significant down time. Yet, since the implanted bone must heal and adhere to the natural bone, full healing requires six to nine months. Success in the procedure depends upon the skill and technique used by the surgeon, as well as, overall bone and tissue health and the patient’s compliance with post operative instructions.
Selecting a Dental Implant Bone Graft Dentist
Since this is a technically driven procedure, the training and experience of the dentist or oral surgeon is important to consider when selecting a dentist to perform your procedure. So, it’s wise to ask the dentist or surgeon about their level of skill and experience. It is also wise to view before and after photographs of other patients who have had the bone grafting procedure with the dentist or surgeon you are interested in having your procedure with.
If you are interested in general dentistry or cosmetic dentistry, contact Austin Dental Spa.