Bone Grafting
Over a period of time, the jawbone
associated with missing teeth atrophies or is reabsorbed. This
often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and
quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In
these situations, the atrophied bone must be augmented to allow for
proper placement of dental implants.
Today, we have the ability to grow bone where needed. This not
only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length
and width, it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and
esthetic appearance.
Watch a video about bone grafting by clicking here.
Minor Bone Grafting
In patients where only minor atrophy has occurred, placement of
the dental implant need not be delayed. The implant can often be
place with very good stability and the mild bone defect grafted
simultaneously. For minor grafts, autogenous bone (bone from the
patient) or allogeneic bone (sterile bone from another source) are
frequently used. Your surgeon will discuss the advantages of each
type of bone with you during your consultation.
Learn more about bone grafting by clicking here.
Major Bone Grafting
Bone grafting can repair implant sites with inadequate bone
structure due to previous extractions, gum disease or injuries. The
bone usually obtained from the jaw, hip or tibia (below the knee)
of the patient. Sinus bone grafts are also performed to replace
bone in the posterior (back) upper jaw. In addition, special
membranes may be utilized that dissolve under the gum and protect
the bone graft and encourage bone regeneration. This is called
guided bone regeneration or guided tissue regeneration.
Major bone grafts are typically performed to repair defects of
the jaws. These defects may arise as a result of long term tooth
loss, traumatic injuries, tumor surgery, or congenital defects.
Large defects are repaired using the patient's own bone. This bone
is harvested from a number of different sites depending on the size
of the defect. The skull (cranium), hip (iliac crest), and lateral
knee (tibia), are common donor sites. These procedures are
routinely performed in an operating room and require a hospital
stay.
Learn more about bone grafting by clicking here.
Sinus Lift Procedure
The maxillary sinuses are behind your cheeks and on top of the
posterior upper teeth. Some of the roots of the natural upper teeth
extend up into the maxillary sinuses. When these upper teeth are
removed, there is often just a thin wall of bone separating the
maxillary sinus and the mouth. Dental implants need bone to hold
them in place. When the sinus floor is very thin, it is impossible
to place dental implants in this bone.
There is a solution and it's called a sinus graft or sinus lift
graft. The dental implant surgeon enters the sinus from where the
upper teeth used to be. The sinus membrane is then lifted upward
and donor bone is inserted into the floor of the sinus. Keep in
mind that the floor of the sinus is the roof of the upper jaw.
After several months of healing, the bone becomes part of the
patient's jaw and dental implants can be inserted and stabilized in
this new sinus bone.
The sinus graft makes it possible for many patients to have
dental implants when years ago there was no other option other than
wearing loose dentures.
If enough bone between the upper jaw ridge and the bottom of the
sinus is available to stabilize the implant well, sinus
augmentations and implant placement can sometimes be performed as a
single procedure. If not enough bone is available, the Sinus
Augmentation will have to be performed first, then the graft will
have to mature for several months, depending upon the type of graft
material used. Once the graft has matured, the implants can be
placed.
Watch a video about sinus lift procedures by clicking here.
