Building Back
In absence of teeth the jaw bone will resorb. For certain implant placement situations it may be necessary to graft the missing volume of bone back in order to support the implant fixture.
What to expect
At the Appointment
Duration usually 60-90 min
Oral anesthetic use
Possible minor discomfort
After Appointment
Mild postoperative bleeding
Post operative discomfort
Avoid eating until numbness wears off
What it is
Bone tissue always prefers to be subject to forces which stimulate bone generation. A tooth in a jawbone provides that stimulation. However, once a tooth is gone, there is no more stimulation that keeps that bone in place and the bone begins to resorb.
After significant resorption of the alveolar ridge the leftover bone volume is not sufficient to support an implant. This is where a bone grafting procedure is necessary.
Addition of bone graft will increase the volume of bone in order to stabilize the future implant.
How it is accomplished
Gums are opened in order to access the bone.
Particulate bone graft that is derived from human or bovine sources is placed on the jaw bone and secured with a membrane.
The gum is put back together to achieve closure. The area is left to heal and integrated for the next 4-6 months.
4-6 months of healing and integration
Immediately after Surgery:
- Stay away from spicy foods
- Stay away from crunchy foods
- Stay away from smoking
- Take pain medications before anesthetic wears off
In certain cases implant can be placed at the same time as the bone graft. Ask your doctor if this is right for you.
After healing, the bone is ready to accept an implant, if one has not been placed at the bone grafting appointment.
