Bone Grafting

Bone loss in the jaws and around the teeth may be a result of missing teeth, chronic infection, periodontal disease, or trauma. More than just a detriment to oral health and function, bone loss can also affect your appearance and diminish the natural contours of the face.

By performing bone grafting, the surgeon can help restore the bone to its original shape to improve facial aesthetics, rebuild tissue support, restore function, and stabilize implants.

A bone graft provides the platform or “scaffolding” for new bone growth to occur.

Socket And Ridge Preservation

Ridge preservation is a procedure designed to retain the soft tissue and bone structure at the site of an extracted tooth After a tooth is removed, bone grafting material is placed into the socket to promote healing and encourage new bone development in hopes of building a strong foundation for a future implant.

Ridge Augmentation

The bone that surrounds the roots of the teeth is known as the alveolar ridge. A ridge augmentation is a surgical procedure performed to restore the normal height and width of the alveolar ridge after it has been diminished over time due to tooth loss, denture wear, or trauma. In the presence of a reduced and narrowed alveolar ridge, the primary consideration is how it potentially affects the placement of a dental implant or another dental prosthesis.

A ridge augmentation procedure is performed by placing bone graft material into the tooth socket immediately after a tooth has been removed, or in an existing deficient area as a means to rebuild the shape of the gums and jaw. While in certain situations, dental implants can be placed at the time of a ridge augmentation procedure, they are more often placed after sufficient healing has occurred. By this time, the bone graft has successfully fused with the existing bone, and new bone has formed. 

In addition to bone grafting for purposes of ridge preservation or augmentation to allow for dental implants, aesthetic ridge augmentation procedures to restore the natural contours of the bone are sometimes performed in preparation for fixed bridgework to achieve a more cosmetically pleasing result.

To guide tissue regeneration as well as protect the graft and promote healing, the oral and maxillofacial surgeon may place specialized membranes and biologically active materials over the grafting material.

Sinus Lift

For patients lacking a sufficient amount of bone for a dental implant to replace a maxillary back tooth (upper back tooth), a procedure, which is known as a “sinus lift” is performed. During this surgical procedure, the sinus membrane is lifted, and bone graft material is added between the jaw and the floor of the sinus to provide the needed bone height to support a dental implant successfully.

Depending upon the needs of the case, one of two types of sinus lifts may be performed:

• Lateral Window Technique: This method of care involves cutting out and pushing a defined section of the overlying dental bone against the sinus membrane to elevate it. The space that the dental bone and sinus membrane previously occupied is then filled with bone grafting material. Afterward, the area is given several months to heal before the implant is placed.
• Transalveolar: With this approach to care, the sinus membrane is elevated, and a bone graft and implant are immediately placed. Following a sinus lift procedure, there may be some swelling and bleeding. Our office will provide complete information on post-op care, follow-up visits, and precautions to take to facilitate optimal healing.