Bone Grafting

Over a period of time, the jawbone 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 https://www.sokoldentistry.com/treatments/dental-implants. In these situations, most patients are not candidates for placement of dental implants. Today, we have the ability to grow bone where it is needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and aesthetic appearance.

What Is Bone Grafting?

With bone grafting, we now have the opportunity to not only replace bone where it is missing, but also to promote new bone growth in that location. The grafting material can be obtained from a tissue bank, harvested from your own body, or made from a synthetic substitute. It acts as a scaffold that your body fills in with healthy new bone over time, rebuilding a strong foundation capable of supporting a dental implant. In many cases, special membranes that dissolve under the gum may be used to protect the graft and encourage bone regeneration—a process called guided bone regeneration.

Major & Minor Bone Grafting

Minor bone grafting can repair implant sites with inadequate bone structure caused by previous extractions, gum disease, or injuries. These procedures are routinely performed in the office and are commonly done in preparation for, or at the same time as, dental implant placement.

Major bone grafting is typically performed to repair larger defects of the jaws, which may arise from traumatic injuries, tumor surgery, or congenital defects. Larger defects are repaired using the patient’s own bone, harvested from sites such as the skull, hip, or tibia depending on the size of the area being restored. These more extensive procedures are performed in an operating room.

Common Bone Grafting Procedures

Depending on your needs, Dr. Sokol may recommend one of the following procedures to rebuild your jawbone:

Socket Preservation

When a tooth is removed, the surrounding bone and gums can shrink and recede very quickly, resulting in defects and collapse of the lips and cheeks. Socket preservation is performed immediately after an extraction to minimize this bone loss, preserve the site, and greatly improve your chances for a successful dental implant down the road.

Ridge Augmentation

A ridge augmentation recreates the natural contour of the gums and jaw that may have been lost due to bone loss following an extraction. Bone graft material is placed in the tooth socket—often at the same time as the extraction—then the gum tissue is secured over it. Once healed, the alveolar ridge is restored to the height and width needed to support a dental implant.

Sinus Lift (Sinus Augmentation)

The maxillary sinuses sit above your upper back teeth. When those teeth are lost, there is often only a thin wall of bone separating the sinus from the mouth—too little to anchor an implant. A sinus lift raises the sinus floor and adds bone grafting material, allowing new bone to form so that dental implants can be securely placed in the upper jaw. It is one of the most common grafting procedures for patients with bone loss in the back of the upper jaw.

Nerve Repositioning

In certain cases involving the lower jaw, the nerve that provides feeling to the lower lip and chin may need to be moved to allow room for the placement of dental implants. This is considered a highly specialized procedure and is reserved for situations where it offers the best outcome.

What Causes Jawbone Loss & Deterioration?

Healthy teeth stimulate the jawbone and keep it strong. When that stimulation is lost, the bone begins to deteriorate. Common causes include:

  • Tooth Loss & Extractions: without the tooth root to stimulate it, the surrounding bone resorbs over time.
  • Unanchored Dentures & Bridgework: dentures resting on top of the gums provide no direct stimulation to the bone, which can lead to loosening and further bone loss.
  • Trauma: a knocked-out or broken tooth that leaves no biting surface below the gum line stops bone stimulation and can result in jawbone loss.
  • Sinus Deficiencies: when upper molars are removed, air pressure from the maxillary sinus can cause the underlying bone to resorb, sometimes requiring a sinus lift.

Advanced Grafting Options

Our practice uses modern techniques to help your body heal faster and more predictably:

  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP): an isolated protein that stimulates your own cells to form new bone. Because it eliminates the need to harvest bone from the hip, patients are spared donor-site pain and complications.
  • Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP): derived from a small sample of your own blood, PRP releases growth factors that accelerate healing and encourage the body to regenerate new bone and tissue at the graft site.

What Type of Anesthesia Is Used?

The majority of bone grafting procedures can be performed in the office under local anesthesia, with or without oral or intravenous sedation. Larger, more complex grafts may be performed in an operating room. Dr. Sokol would be happy to discuss all of your grafting options with you at the time of consultation.

Rebuilding your foundation for a healthy smile. If you’ve been told you don’t have enough bone for dental implants, bone grafting may be the solution. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Sokol to learn more.