Bone Grafting Procedure to Promote Dental Implant Success

If you are thinking of getting a dental implant, you should learn about bone grafting. Dental implants require a surgical procedure for them to be inserted into the jawbone. Since it is oral surgery, it is good for you to know about any additional treatments and procedures. Sometimes, patients need a bone graft for dental implants.

Bone grafting

Dental implant surgery involves the insertion of the implant into the jaw. This means a person has to have enough bone to support it. However, a person’s jawbone may be too soft or thin to keep the implant. The powerful chewing action of the mouth exerts immense pressure on the bone and if it is not able to support the implant, the surgery will not be successful. Therefore, an oral surgeon may recommend a bone graft. It can help to create a solid foundation for the implant.

What is bone grafting?

Bone grafting is a procedure used to correct or fix problems with bones and joints. A transplanted bone helps to rebuild and repair damaged or diseased bones. This process restores or regenerates bone in the jaw when there is not sufficient bone to support the implant. Using bone additives and growth factors to strengthen the bone usually achieves good results. There are several bone graft materials a surgeon may use to rebuild the jawbone.

Bone graft procedure

In this procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the gum tissue above the bone-deficient area and creates a flap so that the bone is visible. The surgeon will then identify the amount of bone that should be replaced. If the bone will be taken from another area of the body, another incision will be made so that the bone can be extracted. The oral surgeon will place the grafting material where the bone was and then stitch it up.

The grafted bone will then be put on the jawbone using a titanium screw. The new block of bone can also be surrounded by other grafting materials. Some surgeons may also opt to put a special membrane material around the area. The surgeon will then stitch the gum tissue back into position to protect and cover the surgical area. The stitches will dissolve within a few weeks.

It can take a couple of months for the transplanted bone to eventually grow enough new, strong bone. A successful bone graft allows the jawbone to be strong enough to support an implant. Once the process is over, the next phase of the dental implant procedure can start. Sometimes, bone grafting and implant placement are done at the same time.

Next steps for dental implant success

The new bone growth helps to strengthen the grafted region by forming a bridge between the graft material and the existing bone. Over time, much of the grafted material will be replaced by the new bone growth. Aside from the bone graft, other techniques can fix bone-related problems as well. If you want to know whether you will need a bone graft or not, you should visit your oral surgeon.

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