Bone Grafting for Implants
Major & Minor Bone Grafting
Missing teeth over time can cause jawbone atrophy or resorption, leading to poor bone quality and quantity. This not only affects dental implant placement but can also result in shifting teeth and changes to facial structure. Fortunately, modern techniques allow us to grow bone where it is needed, improving both function and aesthetics.
Major Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is used to restore implant sites with inadequate bone structure due to extractions, gum disease, or injuries. The bone may be sourced from a tissue bank or harvested from the patient’s jaw, hip, or tibia. In cases requiring significant reconstruction, bone can be taken from the skull, hip, or knee and grafted to repair defects caused by trauma, tumors, or congenital issues. These procedures are often performed in a hospital setting.
Sinus bone grafts are another form of major bone grafting, used to replace lost bone in the posterior upper jaw. Special membranes may also be used to protect grafts and encourage bone regeneration, a technique known as guided bone regeneration.
Do I Have Enough Bone for Dental Implants?
After a tooth extraction, if the socket walls are thick, the bone usually regenerates naturally within two to three months. However, if the socket walls are thin, particularly in the front teeth, healing can be less predictable. In such cases, a bone graft may be placed at the time of extraction to maintain the necessary bone volume for future implant placement.
If a tooth has been missing for years, the bony ridge may become too thin for an implant. A bone graft can be placed to rebuild the area, requiring a healing period before implant placement. Once the graft has fused with the natural bone, the implant can be securely positioned. Bone grafting is typically a simple and comfortable procedure, with various grafting materials available, including the patient’s own bone.
Sinus Grafting for Dental Implants
Bone grafting may also be necessary if the sinus cavities in the upper jaw are too large or too low, limiting the available bone for implants. This is common when upper back teeth have been missing for a long time. In such cases, a sinus grafting procedure lifts the sinus membrane and adds bone to restore the necessary height for implant placement. This procedure is often performed simultaneously with implant placement under local anesthesia and sometimes sedation.