What is Bone grafting?

[Seema]

My dentist has said that I need bone grafting with my dental implant. Can you tell why bone grafting is necessary?

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

Dental implants need good quality bone in sufficient amount in order for them to integrate with the bone and become stable enough to accept loading.

Sometimes there is insufficient bone available for implant primary stability due to bone loss. Bone loss could be caused for a number of reasons:

1. After extractions, bone naturally resorbs and shrinks away.
2. Tooth infection and cysts can cause bone resorption.
3. Gum disease damages bone and results in bone loss.
4. Bone is sometimes removed during difficult tooth extractions.


If bone loss has occurred, the bone will have to be replaced for successful implant and bone integration.

If the bone loss is minor, it will be possible to place an implant and pack Bio-Oss (bovine derived bone) around it at the same time. The Bio-oss will act as scaffolding and encourage the patients body cells to lay new bone in that region.

If the bone loss is moderate, the bone grafting will have to be done first and one will have to wait 6 months before placing the implant. This usually involves packing Bio-Oss granules and patients own bone into the region and placing a membrane over the bone graft. Around 6 months later once new bone has been formed, the implant could be placed.

If the bone loss is severe, then bone augmentation will be necessary. This involves grafting a bone block derived from either the patients own chin, hip, jaw Or grafting a bone block derived from a human donor. These block grafts act as scaffolding and encourage new bone formation by the body. 6-9 months later once enough bone has been formed by the body, then the implant could be placed in that region.


If an area needs bone grafting but an implant is placed without bone grafting, the gum may recede and that implant could become exposed causing aesthetic problems for the patient and providing bacterial access to the implant surface. Ultimately without sufficient bone, the implant may become loose and be lost.


For more details on bone grafting please see our bone grafting page Kingston Implant Dentists. Dental Implants. Affordable Dental Implants Kingston.