Bone Grafting

Bone Grafting Materials | Sinus Lift | Ridge Expansion/Augmentation | Socket Graft | Nerve Repositioning |
Alveolar Cleft Repair | Onlay Grafting | Split Ridge/Ridge Widening | Iliac Crest Bone Graft (ICBG) |
Tibial Bone Graft | Platelet Rich Plasma

Bone grafting is sometimes necessary to replace bone lost from trauma or bone loss associated with diseased or missing teeth.

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, most patients are not candidates for placement of dental implants.

Loss of Teeth = Loss of Bone

We now 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.

In some cases it is necessary during orthognathic surgery or for reconstructive surgery after tumor or cyst removal.

Bone grafting can repair implant sites with inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease or injuries. The bone is either obtained from a tissue bank or your own bone is taken from the jaw, hip or tibia (below the knee.) Sinus bone grafts are also performed to replace bone in the posterior 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 Grafting

Major bone grafts are typically performed to repair defects of the jaws. These defects may arise as a result of 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.