Bone graft is a procedure that replaces and regenerates lost bone. The most common type of bone graft procedures include the use of human bone that originates to mineral power which is then processed in tissue banks to insure the highest safety standards to prevent the transmission of any disease or infection to the recipient.
There are different indications of the use of bone grafting as described:
Ridge preservation
When you need to have a tooth or teeth extracted it is best to do so in a manner that preserves as much of your underlying jawbone as possible. From the time the teeth are removed, significant degeneration of the surrounding bone begins to take place.. This shrinking is a natural process, but it is an undesirable result of tooth removal.
To minimize the rapid shrinking of bone, a bone graft can be placed in the socket at the time of tooth removal. It is a procedure called ridge preservation. It is usually painless and bone graft can often prevent the need for major bone grafting later on. Check our before and after pictures.
Bone graft with implant placement
When an implant is placed the same day that the tooth is extracted, the gap between the socket wall of the tooth and the implant should be filled with a bone graft. This improves the esthetics and prevents the shrinkade of the bone after extractions.
Sinus augmentation via vertical approach
The upper back jaw (molar and premolar area) has traditionally been one of the most difficult areas to successfully place dental implants due to poorer quality of the bone that grows in this area as well as the close proximity of the maxillary sinus, an airfilled space within the upper (maxillary) jawbone.
When at least 5 mm of jawbone is present below the base of the sinus cavity, a sinus elevation via vertical approach can be performed. To perform this procedure, a set of drills that can cut the bone at the base of the sinus but not penetrate through the skin-like sinus membrane are used. Once the sinus membrane has been exposed, it can be further elevated with the introduction of a bone graft. Once sufficient bone height has been established, the implant can be placed during the same surgery. A crestal sinus elevation procedure can usually be performed when only a few millimeters of additional bone height need to be regenerated.
Sinus augmentation via lateral approach
When there is minimal ( less than 5 mm) bone present on the jaw below the base of he sinus, a sinus augmentation via lateral approach is needed. After 6-9 months, the implant can be placed.