Bone Graft Procedure For Dental Implants

If you are missing one or more teeth, you should give serious consideration to dental implants. This oral health solution for missing or damaged teeth looks and functions just like regular teeth. The placement of dental implants often requires a surgical procedure including a bone graft procedure.

Below, we take a close look at the details of this bone graft procedure to educate those who are considering dental implants.

Why a Bone Graft Procedure is Sometimes Necessary for Dental Implants

An oral surgeon determines if a patient should or should not undergo a bone graft for dental implants. In some situations, this procedure is unnecessary. Other patients require the procedure to bolster the strength of their jaw bone. Do not be intimidated by the term “bone graft procedure”. It sounds a bit painful yet it is a now a minor and routine procedure for oral health professionals. If the jaw bone is overly thin or too soft to hold the dental implant in place and the bone simply cannot support the implant, there is a good chance the implant surgery will fail. The dentist will rely on the bone graft procedure to strengthen the jaw bone so it can support the dental implants across posterity.

An Explanation of the Bone Graft Procedure

The bone graft procedure involves taking a portion of bone from another body site of the patient or another animal and grafting it on the jaw bone. It is also possible to use bone processed sources outside of the patient such as animals like cows. The patient then waits a few months as the graft forms enough new, robust bone along the jaw to ensure the dental implant is secure and stable for years to come. Bone from cows, animals or the patient serves as quite the formidable placeholder to stop surrounding tissue from collapsing. There is an incredibly high success rate in bone graft procedures for dental implants. Once the bone is grafted to the jaw, the body recognizes the graft as natural bone and gradually reabsorbs it. The body actually replaces it with the patient's own bone as time progresses. This fascinating and extremely helpful process is referred to as guided tissue regeneration.

If you require a minor graft, it is possible the procedure will be done at the same point in time as the surgery for the dental implant. Once the bone graft is complete, the remaining portion of the dental implant surgery can be performed. In the end, a bone graft will permit the jaw bone to be formidable enough to support the dental implant across the long haul. This is the support you need to remain confident in the look, feel and function of your dental implants and surrounding teeth. So do not hesitate to have a bone graft procedure performed. Discuss the procedure with your oral surgeon and you will be able to make an informed decision.