Have you been recommended to get dental bone grafts for implants? If yes, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about – you’re just one of the many people who happen to need this procedure before getting implants.
Unfortunately, despite it being fairly common for patients to get bone grafting for dental implants, the procedure is still highly misunderstood. Patients have reservations about it stemming from misinformation (thinking bone grafting to be unnecessary or even dangerous) which keeps them from pursuing implants altogether. Keeping this in mind, it’s crucial for patients to understand the instrumental role played by dental bone grafts in implant procedures so they may approach their treatment with a healthy and positive mindset.
In this blog, we’ll talk about why bone graft for dental implants is necessary and how it can pave the way to a healthy and beautiful smile!
What Is Bone Grafting For Dental Implants?
Have you ever heard of someone getting bone replacement done after experiencing a bone fracture (for example, due to trauma or accident) in order to repair the fracture and restore the bone function? It’s known as ‘bone grafting’ – a common medical procedure which refers to the process of replacing a damaged, diseased or lost bone in a person’s body with healthy bone material.
A very similar process – known as dental bone grafting – is performed before the placement of dental implants, though for a completely different reason! Dental bone grafting is the process where a person’s damaged or deteriorated jawbone is ‘supplemented’ with ‘extra’ bone material in order to make the jawbone healthy and voluminous (dense), both of which are crucial characteristics for the successful placement of implants.
In other words, dental bone grafting is a means of supplying adequate bone structure to the jaw (having very little bone initially) to make it capable of supporting dental implants successfully.
Why Is Bone Grafting Necessary For Some Patients?
Now that we know what dental bone grafts are and their core function, it’s time to dig a little deeper and understand why bone grafting is deemed necessary for some patients.
Patients who wish to get dental implants
should be aware of the fact that implants (like most dental procedures) come with a set of prerequisites which patients must satisfy in order to be eligible for implants. One of these (and the most important one) prerequisites is the presence of a healthy and dense jawbone.
Think of the jawbone for implants like the foundation of a building. Just as a sturdy foundation is essential to support the weight and structure of a building, a strong and healthy jawbone is critical to anchor dental implants securely. Without a solid foundation, the building may collapse, and similarly, without sufficient bone density and quality, the implant may fail to integrate properly and remain stable over time.
With that being said, not everyone has a strong and healthy jawbone (which could be due to a plethora of common reasons such as gum disease, history of trauma to the jaw, age-related jawbone determination, medical conditions affecting bone function, etc.).
Fortunately, the absence of inadequate jawbone doesn’t bar you from experiencing the joy of permanent teeth restoration, but on one necessary condition – you need to get bone grafts placed in your jaw before getting implants! Getting bone grafts is necessary in such cases as it’s the only way to make up for your jawbone inadequacy and, hence, the only way for you to become eligible for implants.
Types Of Dental Bone Grafts
Modern restorative dentistry aims to make teeth replacement easier and more accessible for patients, and it totally reflects in the advancements that have occurred in dental bone grafting types over the years. Today, patients have the option to choose from a total of 4 dental bone graft types, including:
- Autographs – which is the most common type of dental bone grafts, and the safest as well. In this type, the grafting material is sourced from the patient’s own body (from regions such as the chin, the shin bone, or the posterior portion of the jawbone). This type is the ideal type because it has the least risk of rejection from the patient’s immune system and ensures guaranteed integration with the existing jawbone.
- Allografts – which are bone grafts sourced from another human being, preferably from the patient’s biological sibling or a very close relative.
- Xenografts – these are taken from the body of an animal instead of a human source. The bone of cows is usually used in xenografts, which are carefully processed to remove the organic compounds from it and retain a mineral-dense matrix, which helps in bone regeneration in the patient.
- Alloplasts – these are synthetic/artificial bone materials made in laboratories. Though alloplasts don’t have a natural origin, they perfectly mimic natural bone structure and may even be made to have special properties (like increased biocompatibility, strength, etc.) as per the unique requirements of the patient.
How Is Bone Grafting Done?
Like dental implants surgery, bone grafting is also a surgical procedure, and hence is inherently invasive in nature (though the extent of its invasiveness depends on how much extra bone you need in your jaw to begin with, and on the source of the grafted material).
Here’s a brief summary of how bone grafting is usually performed:
- The procedure starts with the administration of local anaesthesia at the intended site of bone grafting (i.e. the jawbone deficient area) to make it painless and comfortable for the patient.
- Once the anaesthesia sets in, the gum tissues are cut open at the numbed site, exposing the underlying jawbone.
- Bone grafting material (which is kept ready for use) is carefully set into the jawbone and secured in place by means of a mesh or a membrane so it’ll not fall out afterwards.
- Once the grafted material is successfully placed, the gum tissues are stitched back, and the freshly placed bone grafts are allowed to heal and integrate with the patient’s existing jawbone for about 3-6 months.
Conclusion
Bone grafting is the procedure that creates eligibility in people who are otherwise deemed unfit for dental implants due to having severely compromised jawbone health. By remedying jawbone insufficiency in such patients, bone grafting plays an instrumental role in dental implant procedures.
If you require more information regarding dental bone grafts or need an expert opinion on your case, you may schedule a FREE consultation with NJ Smile Clinic, a premium dental practice located in New Jersey. Talk to our team of expert implant surgeons
and pave your way to a revitalized smile!
