Will I Need a Bone Graft Before I Get Dental Implants?
Famous for their ability to provide a stable and natural-looking replacement, dental implants are a popular solution for many patients with missing teeth. With this in mind, the treatment requires an adequate amount of healthy jawbone – and, unfortunately, not all patients qualify in this area.
If you have been missing teeth for years and lack the bone structure needed to support an implant, you may be a candidate for a bone graft. At Designer Smiles, Dr. Ann is a bone grafting expert, and she will be happy to walk you through the decision and process.
What Is a Bone Graft?
The jawbone, or “alveolar bone,” exists for one purpose: to support the teeth. Because it facilitates chewing, the jawbone is essential to the body’s entire function. The presence of tooth roots in the jawbone maintains the height and width of the bone itself. As such, when a tooth falls out, the bone in the extraction site slowly begins to shrink, leading to a short, narrow section of bone that is not large enough to surround an implant. That’s where a bone graft can help! A bone graft aims to augment the width and/or height of the jawbone by adding materials that stimulate natural bone growth.
What Is a Bone Graft Made Of?
You can choose from a variety of materials for your bone graft. For instance, some bone graft material is synthetic (i.e., made in a lab), while animal bone (most commonly cow and sheep) is also a popular option. Alternatively, some choose to use human cadaver bone, and still others opt for their own bone, harvested from a different region of their body. Most grafting material is relatively granular, so you might feel small pieces of a sand-like substance in your mouth throughout the healing process. We can help you choose between these options after your initial exam.
How Is a Bone Graft Done?
When choosing your ideal bone graft, your dentist will keep a few key factors in mind. The more bone loss you experience, the larger your bone graft will be; in other words, the size (i.e., length and diameter) of the implant must correlate to that of the tooth you are replacing. Additionally, in order for the implant to heal and function successfully, it must be completely surrounded by jawbone. Ideally, you need several millimeters on all sides, including the spaces between adjacent teeth and approaching vital anatomical structures, such as nerves.
If a bone graft is necessary as a separate surgical procedure, you may experience some pressure, but you shouldn’t feel any significant pain. The great news is that our jawbones do not have many sensory nerves, so the aftermath of grafting is usually not particularly painful. After a healing period, your dentist will confirm that your body has accepted the graft material and formed a healthy bone site for your dental implant. We’ll provide specific instructions on how to care for the surgical site and the stitches covering it.
Our Webster dentists have extensive experience treating patients with dental implants, and we love using them to rebuild smiles. To learn more about bone grafts, contact Designer Smiles to schedule your dental implant consultation!
Editor’s note: This blog was originally posted on January 22nd, 2021.