Bone Grafting

Teeth are important to a healthy jaw bone. When you chew or bite down on something, the tooth’s roots stimulate the jaw bone, keeping it strong and healthy. However, this stimulation is lost in the area when there is no tooth. Lack of sufficient jaw bone may also be caused by facial trauma, disease, or congenital defects.

Bone grafting is a great option for patients who desire tooth restoration with dental implants but don’t have enough jaw bone to support an implant. At The Regional Center for Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, Dr. Sherban specializes in dental implant placement and is skilled in the latest bone grafting techniques. Contact our office today for a consultation to discuss your treatment options.

About Bone Grafting

A bone graft adds bone to an area where it is needed. The material used for a bone graft can be harvested from several sources, including:

• The patient’s own body (autogenous graft)
• A tissue bank (allograft)
• An animal (xenograft)
• Synthetic materials (alloplast)

The type of bone graft material used for your treatment will depend on several factors, such as the area to be treated, the severity of bone loss, and personal preference. During your first visit, Dr. Sherban will take 3D scans of your face and jaws and discuss your goals of treatment to determine the right treatment plan for you. Anesthesia options will also be discussed at this appointment.

Types of Bone Graft Treatments

We perform several different types of bone grafting treatments:

• Ridge augmentation. This type of bone graft restores height and/or width to the alveolar ridge, the bone in the mouth responsible for holding the teeth’s roots in place. A ridge augmentation may be performed after a tooth extraction to prepare for a dental implant.
• Sinus lift. The maxillary sinuses are located behind the cheeks and on either side of the nose. The bone that separates the maxillary sinus from the mouth can be very thin, especially with tooth loss. With a sinus lift, bone grafting material is placed on the floor of the sinuses to create sufficient bone for dental implant placement.
• Socket preservation. Unlike other types of bone grafts that restore bone that has been lost, a socket preservation aims to preserve the bone structure following a tooth extraction. By inserting bone grafting material into the empty socket immediately after extraction, the socket’s natural size and shape are preserved, making it easier for a dental implant to be placed in the future.