Bone Grafting

Overview of Bone Grafting for Dental Implants

The success of a dental restoration is contingent upon the amount of bone available, making prompt treatment desirable. A missing tooth accelerates bone shrinkage as do periodontal disease, trauma, and infections.

Recent technologies, however, enable dentists to increase bone height and width, fill anatomical voids, and reverse bone loss. The success of dental implants often necessitates such procedures.

Several bone grafting techniques exist. Most simply, bone is procured from the patient during implant preparation and reused in grafting. Extreme cases occasionally require the collection of extra-oral bone. Alternatively, “harvested bone,” prepared from cadavers, is utilized in a safe and effective technique to promote the patient’s bone growth. Synthetic materials or blood components may also encourage bone formation in graft areas.

With the Barrier Membrane Technique, carefully designed membranes cover the site to inhibit the migration of soft tissue cells into the bone. These membranes promote bone formation and are reabsorbed by the body. A second surgery is sometimes required to remove the membrane and securing screws.

Ridge Modification

Aesthetically and functionally successful implants may require the restoration of lost bone in the lower arch via ridge modification. In this procedure, Dr. Larson augments the underlying bone with one of several materials. Occasionally the implant is placed simultaneously, though often the bone must first develop between four and twelve months.

Sinus Elevation

Maxillary sinuses above a patient’s upper back molars may prevent implant placement because air cavities cannot hold the titanium posts. To remedy this situation, an elevation raises the floor of the sinus filling the void with bone. Occasionally the implant is placed simultaneously, though often the bone must first develop between four and nine months. The more localized and less invasive “Osteotome Elevation” raises the sinus only above the implant site. A small circle of bone is lifted into the sinus while the residual cavity is filled with bone graft material. Occasionally the implant is placed simultaneously though often the bone must first develop for four and six months. Both techniques are highly successful.

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