Bone Grafting
A bone graft is a surgical procedure that replaces missing bone with material from the patient's own body or an artificial, synthetic, or natural substitute. The graft not only replaces missing bone, but also helps your body to regenerate its own bone. This new bone growth strengthens the grafted area by forming a bridge between your existing bone and the graft material. Over time your own newly formed bone will replace much of the grafted material.
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 these situations, most patients are not candidates for placement of dental implants.
Now, we often have the ability to grow bone where needed. This gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, and it also gives us a chance to more effectively restore esthetic appearance and functionality.
Our office most often uses bone grafting in preparation for, or during, implant placement. We also use bone grafting for our "Cosmetic Extractions". When a tooth is removed, or extracted, bone resorption often follows quickly unless the extraction site is "plugged" with synthetic or demineralized natural bone grafting material. By performing a "cosmetic extraction", bone resorption can be prevented leaving a more naturally shaped ridge of bone for cosmetic bridges, better fitting dentures or future implant placement.
