Bone Grafting

Extraction of a tooth causes resorption of the supporting bone. Bone resorption causes a 40-60% decrease in its width during the first three years following extraction. Bone resorption occurs at the expense of the outer plate of bone reducing the width of bone. Then overtime the height of bone is reduced. This becomes critical for anterior implants where ideal esthetics, phonetics and function is desired. In the upper jaw following extraction the sinus floor begins to expand further decreasing the available bone to place implants in the posterior maxilla. In the lower jaw the mandibular nerve runs in the bone limiting the length of the implant placed. Bone Grafting can be used as a socket preservation procedure when it is placed following extraction of a tooth or to augment an atrophied or resorbed site.

Bone Grafting Procedures

Ridge-augmentation: Bone Grafting can be used as a socket preservation procedure when it is placed following extraction of a tooth or to augment an atrophied or resorbed site.

Sinus Lift and Graft Procedure

A bone grafting procedure may be indicated following tooth loss. This is due to the fact that once a tooth is removed from the jaw, the bone begins to resorb from lack of stimulation and use. Since the tooth is no longer directing forces to the underlying bone, the bone slowly disappears, never to return. This becomes a problem when dental implants are required because often the resorbed bone limits our ability to sufficiently anchor the implant in adequate bone. This is why bone grafting is often required
Several bone augmentation materials are available to stimulate and encourage bone growth in areas where it is lost as a result of pathological or physiological processes.

Bone grafting materials can be derived from various sources

• Allografts: materials derived from cadaver bone of the same species
• Autogenous: material derived from the patient's own body
• Alloplastic: materials are exclusively derived from synthetic sources
• Xenografts: derived from the inorganic portion of animal bone

Bone Grafting will help to place larger diameter implants in ideal locations that are stable and serviceable for a long time. It also helps to establish normal volume and dimensions of bone for ideal esthetics, lip support and phonetics.