Bone grafting, although referred to as bone augmentation, refers to the process of helping the body to naturally repair damaged bone with similar tissue that occurs within your body. In the context of dental implant work, some patients require bone grafting in their jaw bone if they have suffered bone loss in the area of the implant. This is because dental implants must have a strong foundation in order to succeed.
At Gallatin Valley Surgical Arts, our experienced surgeons can quickly determine if you will need bone augmentation before your dental implant procedure as well as your timeline for completing your dental implant work. They can also let you know if an alternate solution is right for you. Each bone graft is carried out by our world-renowned doctors with the assistance of our board-certified anesthesiologist.
The Bone Grafting Procedure
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure used to repair lost or damaged bone with bone tissue from another part of the body. During the procedure, your surgeon will take this piece of bone from a healthy area of the body and insert it into a point on the jar that requires strengthening or healing. This bone fragment then works as a natural stitch or patch, as the body begins to seal the pieces together on its own natural accord.
Bone augmentation is a common procedure before dental implants and is necessary in the case that your jaw bone is not strong enough to hold the implants in place.
Our surgeons will host a consultation with you to see if bone grafting is the correct treatment plan for your medical issue or if there is a more optional solution for your case. Please contact us today if you are seeking a dental implant and feel bone grafting may be a beneficial treatment path for you or a family member.
Bone Grafting & Dental Implant Timeline
While some patients can somewhat quickly attain dental implants, patients who require bone grafts have a slightly extended timeline to allow for the strengthening and healing of the jaw. Depending upon the extent of the needed bone graft, you will need to wait at least several months after the graft to receive your dental implant.
The entire schedule is as follows:
- Consultation and scheduling
- Bone graft (and healing time)
- Dental implant (and healing time)
- Dental abutment placement
- Permanent crown placement
Generally, the initial phase of bone graft recovery takes a few weeks. During this time, you will take painkillers and antibiotics, care for your surgery sight, and eat a limited number of foods. Even as your bone graft site heals, you will need to wait for the bone to fully integrate into your jaw before moving ahead with your dental implants.
Even though bone grafting can feel time-consuming, especially on top of the dental implant process, it is vital to the success of your dental implant as well as your overall jaw and mouth health.
Types of Bone Grafts
Bone grafts can be broken down into four different categories.
Autografts. These grafts use bone found in another part of your body. Common autografts use jaw, hip, or tibia bone in order to strengthen the bone around your dental implant.
Allografts. These grafts use bone from another human donor via a bone donor bank.
Xenografts. These grafts use bone from an animal similar to humans, such as bovine or equine bones, in order to repair bones.
Alloplastic grafts. These grafts use a synthetic material to strengthen the bone.
Request A Dental Implant Consultation
If you are looking for a tooth replacement solution, consulting with one or more oral surgeons can help you come to the right decision for you and your dental and medical needs. At Gallatin Valley Surgical Center, we are committed to giving our patients better, healthier smiles through our extensive experience and expertise—and we are happy to look at your case and answer any and all questions that you may have. Start the conversation today by contacting our team and scheduling a consultation with one of our surgeons.