Bone Grafting
Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies or is reabsorbed. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In the not too distant past, patients who presented with insufficient bone were simply classified as non-candidates and were left untreated. Fortunately we are now able to transform the majority of patients, with deficient bony support in either the upper or lower jaw, into good candidates for dental implants with the use of a variety of simple grafting procedures. 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. The bone graft procedures are referred to as:
Sinus lift procedure
This procedure involves elevating the sinus membrane and placing the bone graft onto the sinus floor, allowing implants to be placed in the back part of the upper jaw.
Ridge-augmentation
In severe cases, the ridge is too narrow and a bone graft is placed to restore the ridge height and/or width. After the bone graft has fused to your pre-existing bone, the implant(s) can be placed.The amount of bone loss and the size of the graft needed with determine how and when the graft is placed. If the defect is small, grafting can sometimes be performed at the same time the implant is placed. The graft consists of small particles and is usually from a bovine source. Your own bone slowly grows into and replaces this material. Larger defects need to be filled with a graft before the implant is placed. In this circumstance, bone from the back of the lower jaw is harvested that secured in the future implant site. This type of graft is generally healed in approximately four months.
back to top <<
|
