Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies or is rebsorbed. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In these situations, most patients historically were not candidates for placement of dental implants.
Today, we have the ability to regrow bone where needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and esthetic appearance.
Ridge Preservation
We know that when a tooth is removed or lost, the area undergoes a remodeling process that effectively causes a loss of 40-60% of the bone volume in that area. Careful management of extraction sockets after tooth extraction effectively minimizes this damage. This allows for the preservation of natural contours that are necessary for proper function and esthetics.
Bone grafting can repair implant sites with inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease or injuries. The bone is either obtained from a tissue bank or your own bone is taken from the jaw. In severe cases, bone ius taken from the hip or tibia (below the knee.) Sinus bone grafts are also performed to replace lost bone in the posterior upper jaw. In addition, special collagen membranes may be utilized that dissolve under the gum and protect the bone graft and encourage bone regeneration. This is called guided bone regeneration or guided tissue regeneration. This type of case is able to be performed in our office.
Major bone grafts are typically performed to repair defects of the jaws. These defects may arise as a result of traumatic injuries, tumor surgery, or congenital defects. Large defects are repaired using the patient's own bone. This bone is harvested from a number of different sites depending on the size of he defect. The skull (cranium), hip (iliac crest), and tibia are common donor sites. These procedures are routinely performed in an operating room and may require a hospital stay.