Dental implants are great, but conventional implants generally need to be surrounded with several millimetres of healthy bone. This is necessary to provide them with sufficient support, so they in turn are able to provide enough support and strength to the final restoration of a crown, bridge, or denture. Not everyone has enough bone, and in this case Dr Rik Trivedi may suggest a bone graft. This is a surgical procedure to help build up missing bone in the jaw so that implants can be successfully placed.
It’s something that is carried out quite frequently prior to implant surgery so it’s really nothing to be concerned about, but it may increase the overall procedure time. Bone grafts often require several months to heal and integrate with the existing bone, although occasionally it may be possible to place the graft and implant at the same time, provided the amount of bone missing is relatively small.
What are Bone Grafts made from?
Bone grafts can be made from several different materials, as they can be taken from another site in your mouth or in your body, or they may consist of some artificial material or protein designed to stimulate your body into producing new bone cells. Bone grafts can also be made from donor bone that is usually bovine in nature, but it may also be human. Donor bone is subjected to rigorous testing before being used to ensure it is completely safe but is not something that appeals to everyone.
What is it like to have a Bone Graft?
The procedure for having a bone graft is pretty straightforward as the dentist will need to make a small incision in your gum to expose the underlying bone. From there it simply a matter of making sure the graft is placed in the correct position, covering it with a membrane and stitching the gum back over the new graft.
There are quite a few different bone grafts, depending on where the bone needs to be built up. One common procedure is called a sinus lift or sinus augmentation, and is used to build up bone in the upper jaw. The process involves filling the maxillary sinuses either side of your nose with bone, and this may require the sinus membrane to be lifted out of the way. Another procedure is used to widen the bony ridge that used to support your teeth, and is called a ridge expansion. The ridge is split and a bone graft is placed in the split to widen the ridge.
If you are interested in having dental implant in Kent then it’s well worth making an appointment to see Dr Rik Trivedi or another Kent dentist. You can book an appointment on 01474 537191, or you can e-mail us on info@parrockdental.co.uk.