Bone GraftingMerritt Island, FL
Following tooth loss, it is important that your missing teeth be replaced as soon as possible. Today, you have many options. Dental implants are by far the most popular solution available. This treatment uses small titanium posts, which are surgically implanted into your jawbone, to provide support for your dental restorations. The success of your dental implants relies significantly on the fusion of your jawbone to the posts. Without enough bone mass, this fusion might not occur properly, or at all. Florida Prosthodontics can make implants possible for those with weak bone mass with bone grafting.
Bone Loss and Dental Implants
Dental implants have a very high rate of success. Much of this success hinges on the integrity of your jawbone. As you heal, your jawbone gradually fuses to the posts, stabilizing them within your jaw. However, if you do not have enough mass remaining in your jaw, the bone may not be able to fuse properly, or at all, to the posts. This can lead to loose posts and unstable implants, as well as implant failure.
What is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that is performed to restore strength to your jawbone before placing dental implants. During this process, bone mass is taken from another area of your body, or from a donor, and is transplanted to the weak areas in your jaw. This process is done under a local anesthetic and sedation. We begin by making incisions in your gums to expose the bone underneath. Next, we take the bone graft material, whether it is your own or donor material, and place it in the affected areas of your jaw. Your gums are then sutured closed. As you heal from surgery, your existing bone mass fuses to, or around, the graft material, restoring strength and shape to your jawbone, making it possible for implants to be placed.
Types of Bone Grafts
There are a few different types of bone grafts that may be used for your procedure. During your initial consultation, we perform a thorough oral exam and go over your medical history to determine the best solution to meet your needs. Types of bone grafts include
| • | Autografts. An autograft uses your bone material, which is typically harvested from the hip or tibia. The greatest benefit of this type of graft is that there is no risk of rejection or disease transmission because we are using your bone. However, an additional surgical site is needed to harvest the bone from. |
| • | Allografts. An autograft uses bone mass from a human. Donor material is taken from a tissue bank. The bone is screened before use to reduce the risk of complications. The greatest advantage to this type of graft is there is no need for an extra surgical site. |
| • | Xenografts. A xenograft uses bone material from a non-human source, typically a cow. The bone is processed at high temperatures to ensure safety and to reduce the risk for complications. Again, there is no need for an additional surgical site. |
| • | Alloplasts. An alloplast is a type of graft that involves the use of synthetic grafting materials, such as bone morphogenic protein or demineralized bone matrix. |
If you do not have enough bone mass to provide support for a dental implant or multiple dental implants at your initial consultation, a bone graft can help. Call Florida Prosthodontics at (321) 452-3388 today to learn more and schedule your consultation.
Merritt Island