Bone Grafting

Bone Grafting

With eating and chewing, a tooth’s root works to stimulate the jaw bone underneath. This helps preserve the quality and quantity of bone and keep it healthy. However, bone loss is a common occurrence and is often the result of tooth loss, especially over a long period of time. Gum disease, tumors, infection, facial trauma, and even some types of prosthetics, such as traditional dentures can cause bone loss.

When bone loss happens in the oral and maxillofacial area, symptoms such as unbalanced facial aesthetics and impairment of basic functions such as chewing and speaking may be experienced. The severity of these complications can vary. Tooth replacement options like dental implants may be difficult or even impossible when bone loss is severe. Thankfully, many patients who experience bone loss can become successful dental implant candidates after a bone grafting procedure. Bone grafting can also be a successful part of other oral surgery treatment plans, such as facial trauma.

Types of Bone Grafting Procedures

A bone graft works to restore or add bone to the desired area. The bone material used in a bone grafting procedure can be sourced from a tissue bank or harvested from another part of your own body.

Bone grafting procedures include

• Sinus lifts. Located just behind the cheekbones, the bone between the maxillary sinus cavity and upper jaw can be very thin. For patients who desire a dental implant in the back of the upper jaw, a sinus lift will increase the vertical height of the bone necessary to create a solid foundation for an implant.
• Socket preservation. A bone graft is sometimes performed immediately after a tooth has been extracted to prevent the loss of bone and/or prepare for a dental implant.
• Ridge augmentation. The bony ridge that surrounds the teeth is called the alveolar ridge. If more width or height is needed, a ridge augmentation may be the solution. During this procedure, bone graft material is placed into or onto the alveolar ridge to increase the vertical height or width of bone for implant placement.
• Major bone grafting. In general, major bone grafting is performed when an extensive amount of bone has been lost, such as from facial trauma, gum disease, facial tumor, or birth defect.
• Nerve repositioning. The alveolar nerve is responsible for providing sensation to the lower lip and chin. If a dental implant needs to be placed near this nerve, the nerve itself may need to be repositioned to avoid damage. Because of the nature of this procedure, other options are considered first.

Bone Morphogenetic Proteins

A synthetic material called bone morphogenic proteins, or BMPs, can be safely used in the place of your own bone when there is a large deficit present. This avoids the need for a second surgery site to harvest bone. BMPs are protein factors that stimulate new bone growth in the jaw. BMPs work to stimulate your body to grow new bone whenever they are placed. Typically, they are used for sinus lifts and alveolar ridge grafting prior to implant placement. BMPs are a safe alternative to traditional bone graft material.

Stephenville Oral Surgery is proud to offer the use of BMPs for bone grafting procedures. If you are interested in the use of BMPs for your bone graft procedure or would like to learn more, please contact Stephenville Oral Surgery for a consultation with Dr. McPhillips.

Bone Grafting in Stephenville, TX

Bone grafting procedures offer restorative solutions for those who have experienced bone loss due to tooth loss, facial trauma, tumors, gum disease, and infection, and help many more patients become successful dental implant candidates. If you have been referred for a bone grafting procedure, or are interested in our options for tooth replacement, please contact Stephenville Oral Surgery and request a consultation. We look forward to meeting you.