Bone Graft

Bone Grafting

Bone grafting in the dental field is mainly applied to treat patients whose jaw bones have undergone loss to gain commitment with sufficient bone support prior to dental implant installation. Usually, tooth loss, disease of the gums, trauma, or congenital bone issues can reduce the volume of the jaw bone. The bone grafting procedure is done to offset this loss and rebuild the bony structure imperative to the stable operation of implants.

Indications for Bone Grafting:

Dental Implants:

The dental implants require an appropriate volume of bone with a density for right placement. When the jaw is inadequate for implanting the teeth, then bone grafting has an indication in this.

After grafting, some waiting period is necessary for the formation of new bone. In this period, the graft material gets incorporated with the bone, and hence a solid foundation to the implant is provided.

When there is not enough bone in the upper back jaw, the sinus floor is lifted, and in this location, a bone graft is applied. In this way, while providing enough bone volume, this is a process used for the placement of implants in the sinus region.
 

Periodontal Surgery: 

In cases where bone loss appears because of periodontal diseases, bone grafting is used here in order to support the teeth, as well as to decrease the depth of periodontal pockets. In this way, tooth loss can be prevented.
 

Traumatic Injuries: 

In these varieties of injuries, the fractures or catastrophic destruction of the jawbone demands the need for grafting of the bone for reconstructing the architecture of the jaw. 

Types of Bone Grafts:

Autograft (Autogenous Graft):

It is the graft where the bone is harvested from the patient's body and is the usual choice among the varieties of bone grafts in dentistry. Generally, bone from the pelvis, ribs, or jaw will be used to cover the deficiencies existing in the jaw .

Allograft:

These are grafts taken from donors and are processed in a special way. There is no disadvantage, as in the case of autografts, of a requirement of a second surgical site.

Synthetic Grafts:

These are chemically prepared out of biocompatible materials that stimulate the natural formation of bones and compensate for the loss of bones.

Bone Grafting Procedure:

The surgical procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia. Grafting material, often containing osteoinductive proteins or other molecules added to stimulate osteogenesis, is positioned into the bony defect area and occasionally supported with membranes or screws. New bone formation after grafting requires several months of healing after the surgical procedure. In between, the patient has to be put on a specific diet and care. 

Dental bone grafting is the prime preparation in implant treatment and other surgical interventions of patients with lost teeth or serious damage to the jawbone, for one to regain a strong and aesthetically pleasing dental structure.