When it comes to solutions for missing or damaged teeth, none can quite replicate the look, feel and function of a natural tooth quite like a dental implant can, whether replacing one tooth, a number of teeth, or an entire set.
If you’ve been considering dental implants, then you may have come across some info regarding bone grafts, and wondered what that was all about. Well, the good news is you’ve found yourself in the right place, and we’re here to walk you through exactly what a bone graft for dental implant surgery is, why they’re sometimes necessary, and what different types of bone grafts there are.
To start though, we should probably go through a little of what exactly a dental implant is and how they’re made up, as this will lead us nicely into exactly why a bone graft may be required.
What is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants provide a permanent solution to any lost or damaged teeth. As previously mentioned, dental implants can be used to replace a single missing or damaged tooth, a number of teeth, or can even provide a full mouth restoration by replacing an entire set, gums and all.
The dental implant itself is a small titanium screw. This is screwed into the jawbone where it acts just as the root of a natural tooth would. On top if this is what’s known as an abutment, which acts as a connection piece to allow the crown or dental bridge to sit on top.
So What Exactly is a Bone Graft For Then?
Also commonly referred to as block grafts, a bone graft is a relatively simple procedure that seeks to increase the height and width of the jawbone in the area in which the dental implant needs to be screwed in place.
If undergoing a bone graft, your surgeon will perform the procedure by grafting healthy bone tissue to the deficient area, and once it’s in place, all of the proteins and collagen contained within the grafted bone will help and encourage it to further grow.
There are a number of different types of bone graft procedures, as well as different ones that are performed on the lower and upper jaw.
What Would Cause a Bone Graft to be Necessary?
Without a sufficient amount of bone mass in the jaw to house the dental implant, the procedure unfortunately won’t be successful or long lasting, and while there are a number of contributing factors involved in a successful dental implant installation, a process known as Osseointegration is one of the most important.
For the dental implant procedure to be a success, the titanium implant needs to create a strong bond with the bone and surrounding tissues as they all heal. This process is known as Osseointegration, and without a sufficient enough amount of surrounding bone mass in the jaw, Osseointegration won’t be able to take place, and the implant procedure won’t be a success.
A large number of patients who seek dental implants suffer with some degree of bone loss, as tooth loss is one of the biggest contributors to the condition. This issue is one of the largest that dental surgeons face when carrying out dental implant surgery, and once a lost or removed tooth is gone, the surrounding bone is also often lost or worn down as a result of the tooth’s absence. While the ultimate degree of bone loss will always differ from patient to patient, there’ll typically always be some degree going on unless specific steps have been taken to prevent its occurrence.
So a bone graft will typically be necessary for anyone suffering with some degree of bone loss, and will be an additional procedure carried out before any dental implant work can begin. Not everyone will be well suited to a bone graft though, and will need to be evaluated by their dental surgeon first.
What Different Types of Bone Graft Are There?
There are 4 main types of bone graft, and if you need a bone graft prior to undergoing your dental implant surgery, then the one that’s best suited for you will come down to a number of factors. As always, your dental surgeon will discuss these with you during your initial consultation, and work with you to determine which one will suit you best.
— Autogenous bone graft: An autogenous bone graft is where a piece of bone tissue will be taken from a donor site somewhere else on the body, usually from the back of the jaw, the chin, or even the hip. By using bone tissue from a donor site on the patient’s own body, this ensures that there’s a much higher chance that the body will accept the bone.
— Allograft: Much the same as an autogenous bone graft, an allograft instead takes the bone tissue from another person.
— Xenograft: With a xenograft, bone is taken from an animal, typically either Bovine or Equine.
— Alloplast: Alloplasts are a synthetic solution, using a substitute that’s both chemically similar and designed to closely replicate human bone tissue.
What Different Bone Graft Procedures are There?
There are two main bone graft procedures:
— Onlay graft: With an onlay graft, the bone tissue that’s being transplanted is laid directly in place on top of the jawbone, where it will slowly fuse with the bone underneath. When healed, this will allow for a much more suitable surface area for the dental implant.
— Augmentation/sinus lift: This may be suggested when the upper jaw has an insufficient amount of bone mass. The bone where the molars and premolars sit is elongated, and a bone graft is placed between the maxillary sinuses either side of the nose and the jaw after lifting the sinus membrane.
If you’ve been thinking about dental implants, then get in touch today! With dental implants Turkey you can enjoy some of the best prices, best surgeons, and best medical standards in the world, all alongside a relaxed, stress-free holiday. What could be better?
