Bone augmentation/bone graft is a term that describes a variety of procedures used to build bone so that dental implants can be placed. These procedures typically involve grafting bone or bonelike materials to the jaw. The graft can be your own bone or be processed bone. After grafting, you have to wait several months for the grafted material to fuse with the existing bone. Process bone materials either cause surrounding bone to grow into the graft or cause cells around the graft to change into bone. A graft from your own bone transplants bone cells or a block of bone that fuses to the jaw.

Bone augmentation often performed in our office using local anesthesia to numb the area that will be involved, sometimes a long with IV sedation to remove anxiety. After the procedure, you will usually be given antibiotics, pain medication if needed, and an antibacterial mouthwash, and instructed not to eat certain food and putting pressure on the bone grafting area. Once the grafted bone has fused and become strong, integrated part of the surrounding bone, you implant will be placed. After bone augmentation, our dentists usually wait four to nine months before placing implants.

Reasons For Bone Augmentation

The number one reason for bone augmentation surgery is bone loss. The bone in your jaw maintains its health through the constant motion and pressure of chewing. Because of this, a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth that are left unreplaced will cause the bone in your jaw to break down and resorb. Even if a tooth has only been missing for one year, 25% of the bone has already been lost within that short time. To avoid bone loss, replacing the lost natural tooth with an immediate dental implant is recommended. Other causes of bone loss that are not as common, include misaligned teeth, gum disease, infection, and tumors in the face.

BEFORE: Bone AugmentationBEFORE: Bone Augmentation

When a tooth is missing, loss of bone may occur at the site of that tooth, enabling surrounding teeth to shift.

DURING: Bone AugmentationDURING: Bone Augmentation

Fortunately, when bone loss occurs, our doctors are able to pack the site with bone particulates.

AFTER: Bone AugmentationAFTER: Bone Augmentation

The particulates will heal into the existing bone to create adequate bone density for a dental implant.

Why bone grafting is performed

Bone grafting is done for numerous reasons, including injury and disease. There are four main reasons bone grafts are used:

  • A bone graft may be used in the case of multiple or complex fractures or those that don’t heal well after initial treatment.
  • Fusion helps two bones heal together across a diseased joint. Fusion is most often done on the spine.
  • Regeneration is used for bone lost to disease, infection, or injury. This can involve using small amounts of bone in bone cavities or large sections of bones.
  • A graft can be used to help bone heal around surgically implanted devices, like joint replacements, plates, or screws.