Bone Grafting

 

Dental bone grafting is a procedure which adds volume and density to your jaw in areas where bone loss has occurred. The bone graft material may be taken from your own body (autogenous), may be purchased from a human tissue bank (allograft), or an animal tissue bank (xenograft). In some instances bone graft material may be synthetic (alloplast).

A bone graft is necessary when bone loss has occurred in the jaw. This procedure is commonly performed prior to dental implant placement or when bone loss is negatively affecting neighboring teeth. Once the bone graft is placed, it holds space or your own body to do the repair work. A dental bone graft is like a scaffold on which your own bone tissue can grow and regenerate. In some cases the dental bone graft is combined with platelet-rich-plasma (PRP). This is taken from a sample of patient’s own blood and is used to promote healing and tissue regeneration.

Indications :  A person with bone loss in the jaw needs a dental bone graft. This procedure may be recommended if one is having,

- Having tooth extracted

- Plan to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant

- Need to rebuild the jaw before getting dentures

- Have areas of bone loss due to periodontal disease.

Bone grafting procedures : 4 main types

-- Socket preservation: Sometimes called ridge preservation, this type of graft is placed in the socket immediately after tooth extraction. It fills the void left behind by the missing tooth and prevents the sides of the socket from caving in.

-- Ridge augmentation: Ridge augmentation increases the width and volume of the jaw bone so it can provide a stable foundation for implants or other restorative options.

-- Sinus lift: the maxillary sinuses sit just above the upper back teeth. If upper back teeth are missing, the sinuses can drop down down and invade the space once occupied by the teeth roots. In this scenario, implant placement would penetrate the sinus membrane. The surgeon performs a sinus lift surgery which lifts back the sinus to its proper position.

-- Periodontal bone graft: Infection from periodontal disease can erode the bone that supports the teeth.

Procedure : Firstly the area to be grafted is made numb using local anesthesia, then create a small incision in the gums. Gum tissue is moved back slightly so that the jaw bone is visible. After cleaning nd disinfecting the area, dentist adds bone grafting material to repair the defect. In most cases the bone graft is covered with a membrane for additional protection. Finally, the gum tissue is repositioned and the incision is closed with sutures. Following a dental bone graft, one may experience pain, swelling and bruising. Symptoms can be managed by pain relievers and antibiotics as well.

Reasons for failure: Failure is a possibility especially among people who smoke or have certain medical conditions. Signs of failure include, pain/swelling that worsens after first week; Pus drainage from the bone graft site; Gum recession; No improvement in the jaw bone volume.

Advantages : Dental bone grafts can increase the eligibility for dental implants and other restorative treatments. This procedure restores the jaw to its original form following trauma, tooth loss or periodontal disease.

Risks/Complications : Infection, Heavy bleeding, Nerve damage, Complications from anesthesia.

About the author:

Name: Dr. Abhilash Dandy

Qualification: B.D.S

I graduated as a Dentist from Sibar Institute of Dental Sciences, Guntur. I have done my externship program at Rutgers school of dental medicine, New Jersey, USA. I have clinical experience of 3 years and currently working as Administrative head — Dental wing in MediCub India, Hyderabad.