Reasons to Undergo a Bone Grafting Procedure
In some cases, it may not be possible to receive a dental implant because of bone insufficiency. A pre-implant bone graft (before the placement of the implant) or peri-implant bone graft (placed at the same time the implant is received) must then be performed. If you do not have sufficient bone mass to take on an implant, you may want to read this post before visiting a periodontist at Gulfside Periodontics in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Why undergo a bone graft?
A dental implant is a structure that looks like a small screw and, therefore, occupies a specific volume. Around the implant, there must be enough bone to ensure the implant is firmly anchored in the jaw. Unfortunately, in some people, the jaw may not be sufficiently able to accommodate an implant. To some extent, bone reconstruction is preventable by using special implants with smaller dimensions, but these instances are few and far between.
Alternatives to bone grafting
In some cases, very short and/or very narrow implants may be used to prevent bone grafts. Recent technological advances have made it possible to design small implants that are both reliable and robust: ultra-short implants (4 mm long) and ultra-thin implants (3 mm in diameter). The development of smaller dental implants opens up new, less invasive and less expensive perspectives for patients with severely resorbed jaws.
These ultra-thin implants, due to their smaller size, can be placed without a Bone Grafting procedure, even in a thin jaw bone. This innovation is, however, not applicable in all cases because there must be some consistency between the size of the replaced tooth and the contact area between the bone and the implant.
Use of bone grafts
It is sometimes necessary to undertake a bone reconstruction height and/or thickness procedure. The technical solutions applicable to overcome the lack of bone are different depending on the nature of the deficiency (height and thickness), its acuity (moderate or essential lack) and also depending on its location (upper or lower jaw, anterior or posterior sector). When a patient has bone insufficiency, the reconstruction procedure must come before the placement of the implant.
A delay of 4 to 6 months is then necessary before the implant can be placed. When bone insufficiency is moderate, reconstruction and placement of the implant can be performed at the same time. Several types of materials can be used in bone reconstruction. The choice of one or another material is according to the surgical technique used. The preferences expressed by patients may also be involved in the decision.
Similar bone
The material used to reconstruct the patient’s jaw bone comes from the patient. A second intra-oral surgical site (usually at the level of the lower jaw) is opened to collect the bone necessary for the reconstruction of the site. The surgical procedure is quite long and painful because it is conducted on two different operating sites. A reliable Dentist should be able to determine bone mass easily.
Bone biomaterials
Bone biomaterials are substitutes, meaning they replace similar bone grafts. The use of biomaterials has several advantages. The procedure is faster and less painful because there is only one surgical site, the one that is increased.
There is no sampling site. Also, biomaterials are available in unlimited quantities, which is not the case of connected bone. Biomaterials have different origins; they can be from other human donors, or from animals. Biomaterials undergo a series of sanitary treatments guaranteeing each person’s health and welfare.
Growth factors are small proteins that can accelerate certain phenomena, such as scarring and the formation of blood vessels. They are, therefore, instrumental in the field of bone reconstruction. It is possible to use growth factors naturally found in the patient’s blood platelets.
There are many bone reconstruction techniques available in Ocean Springs, MS. Understanding the principle of each could help determine which option is right for you.
Extraction cell preservation
After a conventional tooth extraction, a reduction in bone volume may appear, making it difficult to place an implant. If the tooth to be replaced is still in its original spot, dentists use a procedure known as “extraction cell preservation.” This procedure involves removing the tooth very gently and filling the cavity (hole left in the bone after the tooth is removed) with a bone biomaterial.
The extraction cell preservation method makes it possible to maintain a certain amount of bone volume. It makes it possible to place an implant after three months of healing without undergoing bone augmentation. Sometimes, however, the procedure is not enough, so pre-implant or peri-implant bone reconstruction is necessary.
Bone grafting, in a nutshell
There are times when a person’s bone mass is lacking in height and thickness. A bone graft allows the person to receive increases in height and width, whatever the sector. The principle of bone grafting lies in the transplantation of the area’s bone volume.
After about four months, the added bone block is welded to the jaw. The implant can then be put in place. New industrial developments make it possible to personalize the bone graft so that it corresponds precisely to the site to be increased, making the bone graft procedure minimally invasive.