Dental implants are a solid, durable and natural replacement option. However, they cannot always be placed right away, because the bone they go into must be dense and deep enough, which is not always the case. Fortunately, a bone graft can make up for this and make implant placement possible.
If you are considering dental implants, your dentist at Clinique dentaire Saint-Étienne will assess your situation and perform a bone graft if needed.
What is a bone graft?
A bone graft is a procedure done mainly to make implant placement possible and to allow the implants to be placed at the right angle. Certain conditions are required: the jawbone must be deep and dense enough for a screw to be inserted and to integrate properly. That is not always the case, because without stimulation from tooth roots, the jawbone tends to shrink little by little. This gets worse when many teeth are missing. Note that periodontal disease can also cause bone loss, especially if it is not treated and the bacteria have reached the alveolar bone.
The graft procedure
- After giving a local anesthetic, the dentist makes an incision in the bone where it needs treatment, then attaches the graft (natural or artificial). For an autograft, the bone sample is first taken from the patient.
- A synthetic membrane is placed over the surgical area to hold and protect the graft. It also helps healing, which in turn promotes bone growth.
- In the months after the operation, the new bone tissue becomes part of the jaw. This process stimulates bone production, which continues when the implants are placed.
Why have a bone graft?
For successful implants
Dental implants get most of their advantages from osseointegration, the process by which they fuse with the bone they are placed in. If the bone does not have enough mass and volume, this cannot happen. By restoring the thickness of the jaw, the graft increases the chances of a successful implant.
To rebuild bone damaged by disease
Bone loss is usually caused by missing teeth, and periodontitis can also contribute. The bacteria behind this periodontal disease can attack the bone, damage it permanently and cause tooth loss. A bone graft helps rebuild the bone.
To stop bone loss from getting worse
When the jawbone is left empty (without a natural or artificial tooth root to stimulate it), it keeps shrinking. Only proper stimulation can stop this. The graft does just that, by triggering the process itself and by making it possible to place implants, which have the same effect.