Bone Grafting

Gum disease, facial trauma, and even ill fitting dentures can cause oral bone loss. Dr. Patel performs bone grafting to restore lost bone and encourage further growth. With bone grafting, Dr. Patel can create the right base for dental implants, stop gum disease from progressing, and cosmetically enhance a damaged smile.

These are the most common types of bone grafting procedure:

An autogenous bone graft uses bone from your own body transplanted to the mouth. The most common donor sites for this type of bone grafting include the pelvis, chin, and third molar area of the jaw. For larger amounts of bone, the hip or shin may also be used.

An allograft uses synthetic bone or cadaver bone from a bone bank.

A xenograft uses bovine bone, or cow bone.

You may need bone grafting for a variety of reasons including:

Dental implants require ample and healthy jawbone for support. Bone grafting can provide a sturdy foundation for dental implants when the area has been compromised.

A sinus lift may be needed before dental implants can be placed. During this procedure, the sinus membrane is lifted and bone is grafted onto the floor of the sinus.

Ridge augmentation uses bone grafting to fill in ridges that may have occurred because of birth defects, trauma, severe gum disease, or dental injury.

Nerve repositioning involves the movement of the inferior alveolar nerve, which controls feeling in the lower chin and lip, when required for dental implant placement.

Bone grafting is predictable and simple, and it can generally be performed under a local anesthetic, although a more involved bone grafting procedure may require general anesthetic. First, the bone that will be grafted must be harvested or prepared. Then, the gum tissue is cut and separated away from the bone, allowing the transplanted bone to be placed.

Bone regeneration can be supported by gum/bone tissue regeneration, which involves the placement of a thin membrane over the grafted material, creating space in which healthy tissue can grow. Tissue stimulating proteins may be used to promote periodontal attachment. These proteins mimic a naturally occurring protein. Platelet-rich growth factors help with the creation of blood clots at wound sites, and they help stimulate bone growth.

After the bone grafting procedure, a follow up exam is performed after 10 days to check on the success and healing.

Aliso Smiles provides a high standard of dental care to our patients, who visit us from Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Laguna Woods, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, and other nearby cities. Contact us for your dental check-up today.