Gum disease, tooth loss, ill-fitting dentures, and facial trauma are the leading causes of bone loss in the oral cavity. The bone grafting procedure is an outstanding technique that substitutes lost bone tissue and encourages natural bone growth.Â
At North Alabama Smiles in Arab, Alabama, our experienced dentists use bone grafting for various purposes, including creating a solid base for dental implant placement, halting the progression of gum disease, or making your smile more aesthetically pleasing.
Types of Bone Grafting
There are several types of bone grafts as follows:Â
- Autogenous Bone Graft
In this technique, the bone is removed from another part of your body and grafted into the jawbone. The regular donor sites for bone grafting include the chin, pelvis area, or tibia. If a more significant amount of bone is required, the shin bone or hip is generally used.
- AllograftÂ
This technique uses bone tissue from human donors that is cleaned and sterilized before being surgically placed in the jawbone.Â
- Synthetic Grafts
Synthetic bone tissue grafts are created in a specialized laboratory.Â
- XenograftÂ
This technique uses bone grafts from other species such as bovines.Â
When Is Bone Grafting Necessary?
There are several situations in which bone grafting may be the best alternative for restoring deficient jaw bone, including:
- Dental ImplantsÂ
Dental implants are an advanced tooth replacement option that can fully reinstate your oral functionality after tooth loss. However, for the implants to be effective, they need to be firmly anchored to the jawbone. Bone grafting surgery can strengthen and augment the implant site when the jawbone lacks the required bone density.
- Ridge AugmentationÂ
Injuries, congenital disabilities, or advanced gum disease can affect the contour of your gums and jaw. Bone grafts help fill in the ridge and make the jawbone shape uniform.
- Nerve Repositioning
A bone grafting will be performed if the inferior alveolar nerve needs to be moved to allow for implant placement.Â
What Does Bone Grafting Involve?
Bone grafting is a standard dental procedure performed under local anesthesia. During the surgery, a tiny incision is cut in the gum tissue and the bone grafting material is placed before the surgical site is sutured.
To find out more about bone grafts and their uses and benefits, contact our team at North Alabama Smiles by calling (256) 586-8100. You can also visit us at 55 Golfview Dr NE #5467, Arab, AL 35016.
