Bone Grafting
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is a procedure done by oral and facial surgeons in order to promote new bone growth in the jaws where the quality or quantity may be poor. Deterioration of the bone can occur for a variety of reasons including:
tooth extraction
periodontal disease and infection
trauma
tumors or cyst removal
misalignment of teeth
developmental deformities
osteomyelitis
The most common reason for a patient to need a bone graft is in preparation for dental implants. Dental implants need a strong foundation of both bone and gum tissue in order to be restored in the most optimal manner. Depending on the location and deficiency Dr. Robinson uses different types of bone to restore form and function.
Autogenous bone - bone harvested from somewhere else in your body.
Allogenic bone - cadaver bone
Xenographic bone - non-living bone from other species
Synthetic bone - growth factors, proteins, or collagens used to promote bone formation and healing
There are also different types of grafts depending on the area needing reconstruction.
Socket graft or preservation- this is done after a tooth is extracted in order to maintain the width of the ridge. Typically the area requires time to heal prior to an implant being placed.
Ridge Augmentation- the alveolar ridge is the area in the jawbone that surrounds the teeth. When teeth are lost or have infection this area often suffers from deterioration. The width, height and contour of the ridge needs to be optimized in order to have enough support for dental implants. This is usually accomplished using bone graft and a membrane to facilitate bone and soft tissue growth. It can be done as a stand alone procedure or at the same time as implant placement.
Sinus Lift- the maxillary sinuses are located above the upper premolars and molars bilaterally. Due to the proximity of the sinuses to the upper jaw there sometimes is not enough bone to place an implant without augmenting the site. A sinus lift can be done via a lateral window technique or internally depending on the amount of bone needed. Just like ridge augmentation, this can be done as a stand alone procedure or at the time of implant placement.