What Is Dental Bone Grafting?
Dental bone grafting refers to oral surgeries involving placing transplanted bone into an area of the jawbone where it is lacking. Once the bone mass in the targeted areas is back to optimal levels, your oral health is boosted and implant success becomes much more likely. There are four main types of bone graft available each using different materials:
- Allograft – Allografting involves using donated bone from another human.
- Autogenous Grafting – Autogenous grafting involves using bone material taken from another part of your body, either from an intra-oral or extra-oral site. This is usually the most recommended method.
- Alloplastic Grafting – Alloplastic grafting involves using bone materials exclusively derived from synthetic sources.
- Xenografts – Xenografting uses bone derived from the inorganic portion of animal bone.
Benefits of Dental Bone Grafting
- Better Oral Health – Loss of jawbone density can lead to numerous oral health issues such as misalignment, further tooth loss, and gum disease. Bone grafting can help prevent these issues and more.
- Increased Appearance – Dental bone grafting can help correct jawbone deformities and facial sagging caused by loss of jawbone density.
- Improved Chance of Implant Success – Dental implants need adequate jawbone density to serve as the foundation for the titanium posts. Dental bone grafting helps reinforce and regenerate your jawbone, providing the sturdy foundation dental implants require to succeed.
Different Types of Dental Bone Grafting Procedures
Alongside different materials, Dr. Nishime offers multiple forms of bone grafting surgeries and procedures closely linked to bone grafting. Each procedure is designed to target specific problems while improving your oral health and increasing your chances for implant success. They include the following:
Standard Dental Bone Grafting
A standard dental bone graft involves transplanting the bone material into the jawbone where it’s lacking. The transplanted bone will fuse with the surrounding bone mass, encouraging healing and future regrowth through stimulation like chewing. This process is especially useful for preventing loss of jawbone density after tooth extraction, in which case it may be referred to as socket preservation.
Ridge Augmentation
Ridge augmentation is a bone grafting process for reshaping the alveolar ridge, or the upper part of the jaw that holds the sockets of the teeth. When severe resorption takes place, this ridge can become deformed, which can make patients look less attractive and makes them even less capable of retaining an implant.
In the case of ridge augmentation, the bone graft is placed to increase the height/and or width of the ridge, restoring its shape. Ridge augmentation is often performed after a standard bone graft to help fully restore the form and function of the jaw and further increase your chances of dental implant success.
Sinus Lift
A sinus lift may be necessary if you need dental implants in your upper jaw. The sinuses are cavities in your head connected to small channels. The channels produce mucus which drains out of the cavities and keeps your nasal passages clean. The largest sinuses are located in your upper jaw, which can make placing dental implants in these areas problematic.
If there isn’t enough bone mass between the sinus cavities and the implant, the sinus tissue may be pierced, which can lead to a severe sinus infection (sinusitis) and other complications. Additionally, the lack of bone in these areas makes implant failure much more likely.
During a sinus lift, your Honolulu dentist makes an opening in your upper jaw to expose the sinus. The sinus tissue is lifted and the new space is packed with bone material. The bone graft creates a barrier between the implant and the sinus, helping to prevent the sinus tissue from being punctured. Additionally, the bone helps keep the implant successful, making implant success much more likely.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exact cost of your bone grafting procedure will depend on numerous factors, including the level of resorption you’ve experienced, the complexity of your grafting procedure, whether you’re having dental implants installed alongside your bone graft, and your insurance. Dr. Nishime and the rest of our Honolulu dental staff encourage you to contact your insurance provider beforehand and ask them which costs they can cover. If you require additional financing help, we happily offer an in-office membership plan to help you afford your treatment.
Potential symptoms of your dental bone graft failing may include:
- Pus or drainage
- Swelling
- No noticeable increases in jawbone density
- Implant failure
- Pain
- Gum recession
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, call our Honolulu dental office as soon as possible by dialing (808) 732-0291.
The healing time for a bone graft usually takes an average of three to nine months although this time frame can vary based on multiple factors. To ensure proper healing, follow all instructions given to you by Dr. Nishime and keep up with your regular dental exams.
Depending on the state of your oral health a bone graft may be strongly recommended. Without adequate bone density in your jaw, your chances of implant success are greatly reduced. Additionally, a weakening jawbone can lead to other oral health issues such as misalignment, reduced bite force, tooth loss, and infection.
Rest assured that Dr. Nishime is highly trained and will evaluate your candidacy by providing a thorough examination, reviewing your medical history, and taking other vital safety steps before going forward with any surgical procedure.
Better Oral Health & Implant Success With Dental Bone Grafting
By undergoing bone graft surgery, you can not only raise your candidacy for dental implants, but also you can enjoy better oral health, and a younger, more lively appearance. Dr. Nishime is highly trained in oral surgeries and will provide methods to keep you comfortable during your bone graft procedure, including sedation dentistry. Our dental office offers bone grafting and other closely related surgeries to patients from Honolulu and surrounding areas such as Kailua, O‘ahu, and Kapolei, HI.
To learn more about the benefits of bone grafting, contact our Honolulu dental office by dialing (808) 732-0291. You can also contact us by clicking the button below and one of our friendly team members will get back to you shortly.