Bone Grafting Provides a Strong Base for Dental Implants

• When is Bone Grafting Necessary?
• Types of Bone Grafts
• How Long after Bone Grafting Can I Get my Dental Implant?

When is Bone Grafting Necessary?

Loss of bone volume can be caused by a variety of factors, including infection, trauma, and periodontal (gum) disease. If a patient lost a tooth long ago and is just now looking into dental implant surgery, it’s likely that the bone around the lost tooth has degenerated to some degree and needs to be augmented before it can support an implant. A sinus lift is commonly necessary for implants that are to be placed in the upper back corners of the jaw.

A patient’s need for bone grafting may become apparent at the time of their pre-surgery X-ray. Sometimes, inadequate bone volume is not discovered until the dentist actually begins dental implant surgery. In this case the dental implant procedure will be halted and bone grafting will take place at our New York City practice after the patient has agreed to the procedure.

Types of Bone Grafts

There are three types of bone grafts, each named with regard to the source of the bone used in the procedure:

• In an autogenous bone grafting procedure, bone is harvested from one area of the body and transferred to another.
• In an allograft procedure, either synthetic bone or cadaver bone is used to augment the jaw bone.
• In a xenograft procedure, cow bone is used.

Autogenous bone grafting is the preferred method, as it yields the most predictable results. Bone harvested from the patient’s body — as opposed to synthetic, cadaver, or cow bone — is alive and has live cellular elements that enhance bone growth. When performing a bone grafting procedure to augment the jaw for dental implants, the dentist usually takes bone from the chin or back part of the lower jaw and transplants it to the area that will eventually provide the platform for the implants.

How long after bone grafting can I get my dental implant?

It takes several months for the grafted material to fuse with your existing bone. Therefore, dentists typically wait 6 to 12 months to place dental implants after the bone grafting procedure. After your dental bone grafting procedure at our New York City practice, our dentists will monitor your healing and keep you updated on when the dental implants can likely be placed.

Contact Astoria Dental Group for Dental Bone Grafting

Because dental implants provide strong, comfortable, and long-lasting tooth replacement, bone grafting is a rewarding and worthwhile procedure. Our dentists perform dental implant bone grafting regularly at our New York City practice, helping more people than ever benefit from the beauty and durability of dental implants. Utilizing advanced diagnostic technology and surgical expertise, our dentists can help you attain the beautiful smile you deserve! Contact Astoria Dental Group today to get started.