BONE GRAFTING FOR IMPLANTS

When you lose teeth, whether it is just one or several, your whole life is impacted. Once simple tasks like eating and speaking become a major challenge. The quality of your smile is affected, which can also affect your confidence. Tooth loss also leads to the loss of bone mass in the jaw. Losing bone mass results in a weakening of the bone, causing it to change shape. This can then lead to further complications. At Woodland Hills Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we offer dental implants as a treatment for replacing your missing teeth. This treatment restores the functions of your teeth, your smile, and can even preserve the integrity of your jawbone. However, implants rely on sufficient bone mass for success. If you lack the necessary bone mass during your initial consultation, we can perform a bone graft.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SUFFICIENT BONE MASS

Dental implants rely on your jawbone for support. As you heal, your bone fuses to the titanium posts in a process known as osseointegration. This process stabilizes the posts in your jaw, turning them into strong, secure roots for your new teeth. However, after you lose your teeth, you begin to lose bone mass. Without sufficient bone mass, the implants cannot properly integrate into your jaw. They may be loose, or they may not integrate at all, which can lead to implant failure.

ENJOY YOUR FAVORITE FOODS

With dental implants, your replacement teeth are held securely in place on the posts with small screws. This means that they will not come loose or slip out of place. Because they are secure, you can eat all of your favorite foods without any issues. In addition to restoring your abilities to bite and chew, dental implants also help to improve your digestion. You can thoroughly chew your food, breaking it down so that your body can more easily access the nutrients. Improved digestion can aid in significantly improve your overall nutrition.

WHAT IS A BONE GRAFT?

A bone graft is a surgical procedure that is performed to restore missing bone mass in your jaw before dental implant surgery. This surgery involves taking bone mass from elsewhere in your body, or taking bone mass from a donor, and placing it in the weakened area of your jaw. As you heal from surgery, your natural bone fuses too, or around, the grafting material, restoring strength to your jaw and making dental implants possible.

TYPES OF BONE GRAFTS

There are a few different types of bone grafts that can be performed. During your initial consultation, we will go over your options and choose the one that will provide you with the best results.

• Autogenous. Autogenous bone grafts involve taking bone mass from elsewhere in your body, usually the hip or the tibia. Because we use your bone, you will require two surgical sites. However, because we are using your bone, there is no risk of rejection or disease transmission.
• Allogenic. An allogenic graft is one that uses bone from a compatible donor. The bone is screened to reduce the risk of disease transmission, and you only require a single surgical site.
• Xenogenic. A xenogenic graft uses bone from a non-human species, commonly bovine or pig. The bone is processed to avoid the risk of disease transmission. Again, you only require one surgical site.
• Synthetic grafting materials.

BONE GRAFTING PROCESS

Bone graft surgery is done under local anesthetic and sedation. We begin by making incisions in your gums to expose the jawbone underneath. If we are using your bone, another incision is made at the donor site, and the bone mass is extracted. The grafting material is then placed into the jaw, and the surgical wounds are sutured closed. Once you have healed from your bone graft, a process that can take several months, the process for dental implants can then begin.

Bone grafting restores missing bone mass, providing your jaw with the strength it needs to support dental implants. Call Woodland Hills Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery today to learn more and schedule your consultation at (818) 999-0900.