Dental Bone Grafting
What is a bone graft?The success of a dental implant is tied to the amount of bone present in the area where it will be placed. The amount and quality of the bone may be affected by a variety of factors including gum problems, infection or trauma. With modern techniques, however, dentists are able to increase the width and the height of the bone. Some special techniques fill in degenerated areas and anatomically empty spaces (i.e. the sinuses). This prepares the area for the placement of the implant. Prior to the operation, it will be determined whether nor not a bone graft is necessary based on the examination and X-rays. This is a very important issue.
Generally, materials that are a combination of both natural and synthetic element are used in bone grafts. Only a small amount is usually required. Information about the amount to be used and the price should be given to the patient prior to the operation. Whether artificial or natural, bone grafts are the best, most reliable way to increase bone mass.
There are a variety of grafting procedures for creating bone of sufficient quality and mass:
- Autogenetic grafts: Made from the patient’s own bone tissue
- Isogenec grafts: Contain tissues taken from an organism of the same species with a similar genetic structure as the recipient
- Allogenic grafts:Tissues taken from and organism of the same species with a different genetic structure as the recipient
- Xenogonicgrafts: Tissue taken from a different species
Autogenic grafting, the method using bone taken from a different part of the patient’s body,is the one most commonly used by dentists. In this technique, the most preferred regions for the bone transplant are the end or “ramus” of the lower jaw.For sinus lifting procedures,it is the area know as the tuber in the upper jaw. The immune system does not react to this grafting procedure because the bone being applied comes from the same area of the body.
After bone tissue from the new area is placed in the region where the implant will be done, the desired bone quality and mass is achieved. Following the operation, time will be given for the bone to heal before progressing to the implant procedure stage.
