Bone grafting, also known as bone augmentation, is a process in which a bone type material is added to your bone to make it larger. If you have dental implants, bone grafting is done on the jawbone. Your dentist will check the nature of teeth corrosion and reduction of teeth bone. The amount of bone corrosion differs from one person to another. The bone should be thick enough for making a hole for embedding the metal implant.
Dental bone grafting is also performed for patients who have been involved in an accident and lost a particular amount of bone because of trauma. The procedure is done to increase the bone’s density and encourage the growth of new bone as well as give enough strength to the jaw. Bone grafting gets bones from 4 sources:
- from an animal like a cow that has been sterilized
- from a cadaver that has been freeze dried and disinfected
- from another part of the body such as the hip or chin
- man-made type of substance like bone morphogenetic protein that triggers some cells in the body to become bone cells
How is Dental Bone Grafting Done?
The process of grafting depends on the kind of bone that is being attached to the jawbone. If the bone is from the hip, visiting the hospital and getting an anesthetic is required. In case the bone is obtained from the chin, only one surgery is needed. A piece of bone is usually taken from the chin. A local anesthetic is given to the patient and a cut is created inside the mouth below the lower teeth.
A piece of bone is then removed and the area is stitched up. The bone is implanted through a cut that exposes the jawbone. Titanium screws are used to fix the bone in the area where it is needed. The usual healing period is 6 to 9 months. After this period, the implant can be embedded. This will ensure that your jawbone is strong enough to accommodate and hold the implant. This also ensures that you are strong enough to use the dental implant.
Who Can Benefit from Bone Grafting?
Your dentist will recommend bone grafting to ensure that your dental implant has higher chances of being successful. If your jawbone is too narrow or too short for the implant to be embedded, the process won’t be a success. Dental bone grafting will make your jawbone wider or taller so that your implant will properly fit.
Bone grafts have a high rate of success, particularly if your own bone is used. When you have a bone graft, there is no chance of the implant being rejected. Some grafts, however, do fail and another graft will be required to complete the dental implant. Patients who have a medical condition, smoke or drink are likely to have a failed bone graft. Talking to your dentist is a good idea to get a clearer picture of the procedure and know your chances of success.