Bone grafting is a common procedure that surgeons typically use to repair or rebuild damaged bones. It helps to promote the natural bone-making process of the body by stimulating tissue growth. Oral surgeons usually perform a dental bone graft before dental implant surgery for a deteriorating jaw bone.
Types Of Dental Bone Graft Material
There are four major types of dental bone graft materials that an oral surgeon may choose to use. The first type is the autograft. This involves using bones from your own body, such as from your hip or jaw. Using xenografts involves using bone from an animal such as a cow or pig. Allografts involve using bones from a different person, typically a cadaver. Alloplasts involve the use of a synthetic material, such as calcium phosphate.
When Do I Need A Dental Bone Graft?
There are many reasons why your dentist may recommend a bone graft. One of the major cases where an oral surgeon may recommend a bone graft is if you have experienced trauma or facial injury. In addition, if you have areas of bone loss because of gum disease, then your dentist may recommend a bone graft.
Patients who want to have dental implant surgery to replace missing teeth but have experienced bone loss will require a bone graft. This is because oral surgeons install dental implants into the jawbone; thus, they require a firm base. Therefore, if you have experienced bone loss, you will need a bone graft before the surgeon can perform dental implant surgery.
Bone graft surgery may complicated, but to ensure that you do not experience any pain throughout the procedure, your oral surgeon will numb the area using local anesthesia. It is not uncommon to experience some swelling and pain after the procedure, but the pain and swelling reduce quickly afterward. Your surgeon will also prescribe some pain medications to manage the pain during recovery.
Patients who want to have dental implant surgery to replace missing teeth but have experienced bone loss will require a bone graft. This is because oral surgeons install dental implants into the jawbone; thus, they require a firm base. Therefore, if you have experienced bone loss, you will need a bone graft before the surgeon can perform dental implant surgery.
Bone graft surgery may complicated, but to ensure that you do not experience any pain throughout the procedure, your oral surgeon will numb the area using local anesthesia. It is not uncommon to experience some swelling and pain after the procedure, but the pain and swelling reduce quickly afterward. Your surgeon will also prescribe some pain medications to manage the pain during recovery.