Bone Grafting
Dental Bone Grafts
What Are They?
A dental bone graft adds volume and density to your jaw in areas where bone loss has occurred. We use graft material obtained from you the patient (Autogenous), from a human tissue bank (Allograft), and synthetic graft material (Alloplast).
How Does it Work?
Once the bone graft has been placed, it holds space for your own body to do the repair work. A dental bone graft is like a scaffold on which your own bone tissue can grow and regenerate. In some cases, we may combine a dental bone graft with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This is taken from a sample of your own blood and is used to promote healing and tissue regeneration.
Who Needs It?
A person with bone loss in their jaw usually needs a dental bone graft. This procedure may be recommended if you:
- Are having a tooth extracted
- Need to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant
- Need to rebuild your jaw before getting dentures
- Have areas of bone loss due to gum (periodontal) disease
What Happens During Dental Bone Graft Surgery?
To ensure that our patients have a comfortable surgery experience, Dr. Plant will begin the procedure by administering IV sedation. Next, a small incision will be made in the gums. The gum tissue is moved back slightly so that the jawbone is visible. After cleaning and disinfecting the area, Dr. Plant will add bone grafting material to repair the defect. In many cases, the bone graft is covered with a membrane for additional protection. Finally, the gum tissue is repositioned and the incision is closed with stitches.
Bone grafting allows for the ability to grow bone where it is needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, but it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and improve aesthetic appearance.
