Dental Implant Bone Graft
All About Bone Grafting For Dental Implant
Has it been recommended to you to try a bone grafting for dental implant placement procedure but you really are just not sure what this is and if it is safe? It is helpful to understand that a dental implant's success is primarily dependent on the available amount of bone where the implant is being placed. There are a few different things that will affect bone volume such as periodontal disease, infections and trauma.
There are ways to create bone where it needs to be by using bone grafting for dental implant procedures. This allows voids to be filled in which is necessary to guarantee the success of the dental implant.
Types Of Bone Grafting
There are a few different ways that a bone grafting for dental implant procedure can be achieved. Often it is as easy as collecting a bit of bone while the implant site is being prepared and then reusing it. Of course, it is always best to use the individual's own bone for the procedure. In an extreme case, it is possible to harvest the bone from an area other than the mouth such as the hip. In these cases you have to be prepared to undergo your surgery in a hospital setting where one surgeon can be removing the bone while the other is preparing the implant site.
“Bone in a bottle” is another option to use in bone grafting for dental implant procedures. This is used to help the patient to grow their own bone. This is an extremely safe and effective method. Also, in another technique, special materials are used to create membranes. These are then placed over chosen bone graft areas to alleviate unwanted soft tissue cells from forming and to help promote the migration and growth of cells that will turn into healthy bone. These membranes will then be removed later or sometimes they will just disappear by themselves.
Occasionally, tacks and screws may be used to secure bone grafts and membranes. These pieces will also need to be removed later.
Sinus Lift
Bone grafting for dental implant procedures can also be done by using the sinus lift technique. Your skull houses many air spaces that are called sinuses. These allow your head to be a considerable amount lighter than what it would be without them so that your neck can actually hold it up. Occasionally a sinus will be enlarged and will invade an area that is designated for dental implants. An implant cannot be placed into a sinus since there is nothing there to hold it. When this happens, either a bone or a material to stimulate bone growth will be placed into the sinus.
The maxillary sinuses are really the only sinuses that the procedure is affected by since they are found directly over your molar teeth. If this sinus is preventing an implant from being placed then the surgeon can simply open the side of your sinus and raise up the bottom portion so that it fills with bone. Several months later the dental implant can now be placed on solid bone. In lucky cases, there is enough bone so that the implants can be placed at the same time which eliminates the need for separate surgeries.
An Osteotome lift can also be performed by raising up the floor to the sinus to right above where the implant is going to be placed. This is completed without having to open the sinus at all. All methods of sinus lifts have a fairly high success rate. Bone grafting for dental implant procedures are very commonly practiced and very safe. If your dentist has recommended this procedure to you be sure to go over it in detail and determine how many surgeries it will take so that you are prepared and educated to make your decision.