Dental implants are the only permanent solution to tooth loss and are the preferred method for tooth replacement. For most patients, dental implants are a quick, easy, and relatively pain-free way to replace broken or missing teeth.
However, due to at
Dental implants are the only permanent solution to tooth loss and are the preferred method for tooth replacement. For most patients, dental implants are a quick, easy, and relatively pain-free way to replace broken or missing teeth.
However, due to atrophy associated with missing teeth, previous tooth extractions, gum disease, or jawbone injury, the bone structure for many patients is either too thin or too soft for the placement of implants. For those patients, bone grafting provides a solution.
What are bone grafts?
Bone grafting is a common technique that restores the bone needed for the placement of dental implants. This is done by utilizing bone from donor sites such as the jaw, hip, tibia, or bone from a tissue bank. In some cases, barrier membranes may be used in conjunction with bone grafting to protect the bone and stimulate growth (known as guided bone regeneration, or guided tissue regeneration).
There are three types of bone grafts:
- Major Bone Grafts
- Sinus Lift
- Ridge Expansion
Major bone grafts
For more severe cases due to traumatic injuries, surgery, or congenital defects, major bone grafts may be required. Donor sites for major bone grafts typically include the knee, hip, or skull, depending on the quantity and quality of bone required for implants. Once the bone graft has time to strengthen and is stable, de