Is Bone Grafting Safe?

Why bone grafting? Well, if you are seeking dental implants and have significant bone loss, the dentist will recommend bone graft treatment.

Although bone grafting is an invasive surgical procedure, it is not something to be afraid of, our qualified perform these procedures all the time.

What is Bone Grafting and is It necessary?

As aforementioned bone grafting is a surgical procedure done to re-establish and rebuild your bone density.

Patients who have experienced periodontal disease may experience gum recession and tooth loss which further affects jaw bone density. With a thin bone, a dental implant can’t be fixed as the implants need sufficient bone thickness to provide long-term support.

Is it bone graft necessary? Not always. If you have healthy gums and teeth you will not require bone grafting. However, our dentists will discuss with you if they think you are a candidate for the procedure.

Bone grafting and dental implants are invasive surgeries and should be done by a certified periodontal specialist. You may be tempted to use general or family dentist to save cost, but this can do you more harm than good.

Types of Bone Grafts

Four different options are available;

• Your body (autograft). The dentist may extract the bone from your chin, hips, back, jaw, or leg. Though they may be safer, autograft requires another painful surgical procedure and can lengthen the healing process.
• A cadaver (allograft). The graft is sourced from a cadaver. The bone is treated to get rid of bacteria and other materials. When properly sterilized, it presents no risk of rejection
• Animals (xenograft). The bone matter can also be sourced from cows as they are similar to human ones, but it still undergoes treatment

The source of the bone graft will depend on your dental health and how much grafting is required.

Sizes of grafts

There are different sizes of bone grafts;

• A minor graft is where bone granules are placed into the tooth socket. A protective collagen membrane is then used to cover the socket using stitches. Within a few weeks, the natural bone will form inside the socket and maintain the original bone height.
• Medium bone grafts are used when the bone loss is significant and the height and width of the teeth needs to be restored.
• Major bone grafts are recommended when you are missing multiple teeth and have severe bone loss. With this procedure, the dentist will use blocks of bone instead of granules. This is done to provide the foundation for dental implants. It takes time for major bone grafting to heal before the implants are fixed.
• Sinus lift. This is done if you have extreme bone loss. Your dentist will perform a sinus lift to raise the sinus floor to give room and increase bone surface. The bone graft is then placed between the sinus floor and the membrane. After creating enough space, the dentist will use a collagen membrane to protect the bone. Sinus lifts take at least four months to heal.

How Long Does Grafting Take to Heal?

Bone grafting affects dental implant treatment and healing time. Dental implants procedure in itself requires multiple procedures to be completed and adding a surgery will lengthen the process.

Bone grafts can extend the healing process for several months depending on how much grafting is done, the type of graft, and where the graft is placed.

Dental implants may take months to a year to fully heal, but they have a 95% chance of success.

What Happens After the Grafting is Done?

Regardless of the length of the dental implant treatment, you will experience swelling of the gums and face, bruising on the skin, gum bleeding, pain, and discomfort.

The dentist might prescribe pain-relieving medications to help you control the pain and antibiotics to prevent gum infection.

Take caution; don’t use any remedies or treatments without the dentist’s authorization.

After the procedure;

• You will need soft foods and avoid putting stress on your teeth.
• Don’t smoke as smoking can hinder the healing process.
• Visit the dentist biannually to ensure the implant fits and healing properly

Come for A Dental Health Assessment

Bone grafting is an invasive procedure that can slow down the dental implant procedure. So, visit our dental clinic Anchorage Dental Arts for assessment of your dental health and if you are a candidate for a bone graft.