Bone Grafting​

• Bone grafting is an excellent way to replace lost bone and encourage natural bone growth. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of bone loss in the mouth. Other causes include ill-fitting dentures and facial trauma.

• Bone grafting is a versatile and effective procedure that helps create a solid base for dental implants. Bone grafting can also increase the bony support around teeth suffering from periodontal disease.

• Implants are the preferred replacement method for missing teeth because they restore full functionality to the mouth; however, they must be firmly anchored to the jawbone to be effective. If the jawbone lacks the necessary quality or quantity of bone, bone grafting can strengthen and thicken the implant site in a number of ways such as:

• Sinus lift – In this procedure, the sinus membrane is elevated and bone is grafted onto the sinus floor so that longer implants can be securely placed.

• Ridge augmentation – defects in the bone can occur due to trauma, injury, birth defects, or severe periodontal disease. A bone graft can be used to fill in the ridge and create a uniform shape in the jawbone, which helps make implants more secure.

• Guided tissue regeneration – This procedure uses a variety of bone-graft and regenerative materials to rebuild bone around teeth affected by periodontal disease. Some regenerative materials used include Emdogain, Bone Ceramic, or Gem21.

• There are several types of dental bone grafts. The following are the most common:

• Autogenous bone graft – Bone removed from elsewhere in your body and re-implanted in the mouth. Common oral donor sites for grafting include the chin and the posterior third molar (wisdom tooth) areas of the jaw.

• Allograft – Bone harvested from the same species as the recipient.  This type of graft is obtained from a bone bank, a repository used to procure and process human cadaver bone. (MinerOss)

• Xenograft – Bone harvested from an animal, such as a cow. Xenografts are safe and have been used successfully for many years. Ample bone can be obtained and no secondary donor site is necessary. (Bio-Oss)

What does bone grafting treatment involve?

• Bone grafting is a common procedure which may be performed under local anaesthetic or sedation if required.

• The grafting material needs to be harvested or prepared for insertion.

•  A small incision is made in the gum tissue, which is then gently separated from the bone. The grafting material is then placed at the affected site.

• The gum is sutured in place.

• A follow-up appointment will be arranged within 10 days to assess progress.

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