Following tooth loss, gum disease or trauma, the bone in your jaw is damaged. To improve our jawbone, bone grafting is typically performed to restore your bone to its previous form. It may also be used to maintain bone structure after a tooth extraction. Bone grafting builds a foundation for healthy teeth and esthetic dental implants. Restoring and maintaining facial bone structure is important for an array of reasons. Many dental procedures, such as dental implant placement, require that the bone be as close to its original dimension and position as possible for optimal results. The jaw and other facial bones support the skin and muscle that are responsible for our outward cosmetic appearance. Without the support of underlying bone, your face can look prematurely aged.

Understanding Bone Grafting

During the body's normal maintenance cycle, specialized cells in the blood continually enter your tissue to remove damaged cells and replace them with new, healthy cells. Bone grafting procedures place a framework of material in the areas of missing bone into which these cells can enter and start the rebuilding process. Over time your cells will remodel the graft material into your own functioning bone. During healing (after bone grafting), your cells migrate into the allograft material and remodel it into new bone. Over time, host bone will remodel to replace the allograft. Once the jawbone is restored, it has adequate room for placement of a dental implant to replace the missing tooth.

Where Does Bone Grafting Material Come From?

Autograft bone is material that is taken from another point in the patient's body and transplanted to the desired site. It is a good graft material since it contains the patient's own cells, and carries no risk of disease transmission. The main drawback for this material is it requires a second surgical procedure and enough harvestable bone that may not be easily available.

Another material is allograft bone, which is taken from an organ donor and processed to ensure its safety and improve the handling characteristics. The advantages of allograft bone are that it is readily available and does not require a second surgical site. It has been well documented in clinical trials and has an excellent safety record.

Types of Bone Grafting

Previously, patients with poor quality and quantity of bone were not suitable for placement of dental implants but today we now have the ability to grow bone where needed. These bone-grafting procedures give us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, as well as to ensure functionality and esthetic appearances.

Sinus Augmentation Procedure - This procedure involves elevating the sinus membrane and placing the bone graft into the sinus floor, which will allow implants to be placed in the back part of the upper jaw when teeth have been removed and bone loss has occurred. Often, the implants can be placed at the time grafting is performed.

Ridge-augmentation with Onlay Grafting - In severe cases, the ridge has been reabsorbed and a bone graft is placed to increase the ridge height and/or width. In these situations, the graft is taken from another area inside your mouth. This is an office procedure and is usually performed using a general anesthesia and takes approximately one hour.

Nerve-Repositioning - The inferior alveolar nerve, which gives feeling to the lower lip and chin, may need to be moved in order to make room for placement of dental implants to the lower jaw.

These procedures can be performed either separately or together, but that depends on the individual's condition. By visiting your oral surgeon in Huntsville, AL, an appropriate treatment plan will be created to improve your jawbone.