Tooth loss can bring a lot of dental issues — this is why dentists recommend going for tooth replacement options to avoid any dental trouble. Among the multiple alternatives, dental implants take the spotlight. With their titanium roots that replace the natural tooth root, dental implants provide stimulation for bone growth and are considered the best option. However, not everyone qualifies for tooth implants. And in some cases, a bone graft for dental implants is required.
But why bone grafts? In this blog, we will mention all that you need to know regarding bone graft procedures for dental implants. Carry on reading to find out.
What a Bone Graft Procedure for Dental Implants Involves
After your oral surgeon considers it safe for you to undergo dental implant surgery, you will not directly jump into the procedure. There are multiple steps involved to ensure a safe and effective surgery. Therefore, the entire process could last months.
If you are receiving a bone graft for dental implants, it can help strengthen your jaw. Traditionally, this step includes removing a piece of bone from one part of the body and transplanting it into the jawbone. In addition, there are alternative options to obtain bone as well, such as animal or cadaver sources. Bone grafts can significantly improve your jaw’s ability to hold the tooth, making it sturdy. During the surgery, the oral surgeon will make a small incision in the gum to expose the bone underneath. Then, they will add the grafting material.
Once you have undergone a bone graft for dental implants, The grafting material works as a scaffold, helping new bone cells grow. Hence, the individual might have to wait several months for the transported bone to produce sufficient new bone. When the new bone does grow, it can support the dental implants — which was the point of bone grafting surgery.
Since you will be under anesthesia, the bone graft will not cause much pain. Inform your dentist right away if you experience pain at any point.
Types of Bone Grafts
Did you know there is more than one type of bone graft process for a dental implant? All the sources of bone grafting materials are supported by a variety of research. Moreover, as for the material, they are all processed and safe to use. Autografts, however, do not require processing. Here are some types of bone grafting:
Autograft: This involves taking bone from one area in your body and playing it to another part — which, in this case, would be the jaw bone. In this bone graft procedure, two surgical sites are created. These include the part where the bone is deposited and harvested.
Allograft: A human bone processed in a laboratory, taken from a deceased donor, is known as an allograft.
Xenograft: In this bone graft surgery, the material comes from an animal, which is usually a cow.
Alloplast: The source of bone grafting material in an alloplast is man-made or synthetic materials.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a bone graft for a dental implant can help make the procedure successful. By strengthening your jaw bone, the surgery allows new bone growth and makes it possible for the jaw to hold the implant.
At Vintage Oral Surgery, we have your best interests at heart. This is why we offer effective treatments and make significant improvements to your oral health. Talk to us now at (281) 800 8852. You can also meet our dental team at 11620 Louetta Rd. Suite B Houston, TX 77070.