Sometimes, bone grafting may be recommended to support the jaw area. This is a surgical procedure performed by a dentist. There are numerous types of bone grafting procedures, which are classified according to their purpose. Here at Ace Dental, we offer the surgical expertise necessary to perform a variety of bone grafting procedures.
There are 4 main types of dental bone graft that we offer. They include:
A regular graft is performed for dental implantees who do not have sufficient jaw mass to hold implants. The jawbone will be drilled into and the grafting material stuffed in. The graft will be packed tightly to ensure that it integrates with natural bone. A bone graft requires a few months to heal before the implant can be successfully embedded.
A sinus lift is done in the maxillary bone to prevent dental implants from touching the sinus membrane. Using an X-ray image, the dentist will determine if the sinus membrane is too near the maxilla. If the length of the dental implant is longer than the length of the jawbone in which it will be implanted, the tip of the implant will likely touch the sinus membrane.
To prevent sinus problems, the sinus membrane will be lifted by cutting through the maxilla and lifting the sinus upward together with the small piece of cut bone. A hole will be left where the bone used to be, and a graft will be added to fill in the space.
Jaws that have become too narrow to hold a dental implant will need ridge augmentation. The ridge is the part of the gums that you see when you smile. When you lose teeth, the ridge degenerates and its shape becomes narrower. Ridge augmentation thickens the ridge to allow successful dental implantation and improve aesthetics.
Osseous grafting is performed to fix holes in the jawbone known as defects. These defects can alter the structure of the jaws and eventually lead to degeneration. In osseous grafting, the holes will be cleaned out and the bone will be reshaped to imitate its natural contour. Osseous grafting does not always require a bone graft, but in most cases where large defects are found, a graft will be needed to fill in the hole.
Have questions about getting a bone graft? We are here to help.