Dental Bone Grafts

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Dental Bone Grafts: The Procedure, Risks and Cost

If you are unlucky enough to suffer an accident or from a disease that costs you a tooth, there is a small chance that you will require a dental bone graft.

When needed, a bone graft is carried out before a dental implant, thus providing a stable base for the implant to be anchored.

What is Dental Bone Grafting?

Dental bone grafting is a procedure where the bone of the jaw is built up using another piece of bone. There are four different types of dental bone grafting, depending on the origin of the bone.

  • Autograft Bone is taken from one part of the body, usually the jaw or the hip, depending on how much bone is needed.
  • Allograft Cadaver bone is used, ordered from a bone bank.
  • Xenograft Cow bone is used.
  • Synthetic Artificial material is used.

Autograft, also known as “autogenous” bone grafting is the most commonly used because the bone is still alive and has a smaller chance of being rejected by the body. The bone is normally taken from the back of the jawbone or the chin, although if a bigger piece of bone is needed it will be taken from the hip. Dental bone grafts can be done in a dental office under local anesthesia, or in a hospital if bone from the hip is used.

What Happens During a Dental Bone Graft Operation?

If you require a dental bone graft, a suitable graft site will be chosen. If your dental surgeon will be using bone from your hip, you may be admitted to the hospital and will be expected to stay for a few days, and the operation will be performed under general anaesthesia.

The dental surgeon will begin by cutting the gum open and lifting it in order to assess the amount of bone needed. He will also make an incision at the site where the bone graft will be taken. After taking the necessary amount of bone, he may replace it with synthetic material. He then inserts the bone in the jawbone and secures it with small screws. When the procedure is complete, the surgeon closes both wounds.

What Happens After the Procedure?

Once you wake up, your dentist will typically give you antibiotics, pain relief medication and an anti-bacterial mouthwash. He will also give you a list of foods that you can’t eat. You will not be able to put any pressure on the wound until it has healed. It may take three to six months for the area to heal completely before the dental implant can be inserted.

What Are The Risks Associated With a Dental Bone Graft?

The area where the bone graft was taken from will be sore and may swell up for a while. There is always a certain amount of risk that the graft will fail, even if it comes from your own bone. If this is the case, it will be removed, and your dentist will decide if a second graft should be attempted. The graft is more likely to fail if you are a smoker.

Your dentist will consider all the factors involved, including your specific health issues and can tell you whether you’re a good candidate for dental bone grafting nor not. That said, the success rate of dental bone grafting is extremely high.

Like all types of procedures in the US, bone grafting varies greatly in price. Autogenous bone grafting is by far the safest type of bone grafting, but because it requires surgery, it’s very expensive.

However, just by crossing the border to Los Algodones Mexico, you can get this treatment at a fraction of the price. Let us direct you to one of the many highly trained and experienced dentists listed on our site who speak English fluently and will help with your bone graft and implant needs.

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