March 27, 2023

How Bone Grafts Work for Dental Implants

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Have you been considering getting dental implants but have been told that you don't have enough bone in your mouth to support them? You may need to get bone grafts for your dental implants. In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about bone grafts for dental implants, including why a bone graft may be necessary for dental implant placement and the different types of bone grafts there are.

What is a Bone Graft for Dental Implant Placement?

Bone grafts for dental implant placement is a surgical procedure that involves adding bone material to the jawbone to increase its density and volume. A successful implant placement requires a strong and stable foundation of a healthy jawbone, which is why bone grafts are necessary for some patients with bone loss. The bone graft material can come from the patient's own body (autogenous bone), a donor (allograft), or animal sources (xenograft).

Why is a Bone Graft Necessary for Dental Implant Placement?

A bone graft may be necessary for dental implant placement when there is not enough healthy bone in the jaw to support the implant. Without enough bone density and volume, dental implants can fail to integrate properly with the jawbone, leading to implant failure. A bone graft helps to create a more stable foundation for the implant, increasing the chances of success, and significantly reducing the possibility of gum disease with dental implants.

Types of Bone Grafts for Dental Implants

There are three main types of bone grafts for dental implants:

Autogenous Bone Graft: (Uh-Tah-Ju-Ness)

Autogenous bone grafting involves using bone that is taken from your own body. Usually, the bone is extracted from the hip, jaw, or chin and then transferred to the area that requires the graft. This type of grafting is less likely to have your body reject it since the graft contains your DNA and your body recognizes it and your own. However, the procedure requires two surgical sites to harvest the bone and graft it, which makes it less popular than allografts. In general, autogenous bone grafts have a high success rate, ranging from 80% to 90%, according to some studies.

Allograft: (Al-Oh-Graft)

Allografts use donor bone from a cadaver that's carefully cleaned and sterilized for use in the human body. This bone can be mixed with your blood to help reduce the risk of rejection when inserted into the graft site. Since there's no need to harvest bone from your own body, there's only one surgical site to heal, making it easier for your body to focus on healing the graft site. Because of its simplicity and ease for the patient, allografts are becoming a popular choice for bone grafting. Generally, the success rate for allograft bone grafting is relatively high, ranging from 70% to 90%, according to some studies.

Xenograft: (Zen-Oh-Graft)

A xenograft is a type of bone graft that uses material from an animal source, such as bovine or porcine. The donor bone is meticulously cleaned, sterilized to the highest standard, and then thoroughly tested to ensure its suitability for use in the human body. Although less commonly used, this type of bone graft can be a viable option for some patients and has been known to provide effective results.

The Bone Grafting Process for Dental Implants

The Nuvia streamlined bone grafting process has been developed to ensure your experience is as comfortable as possible. Here's what you can expect:

Consultation and Evaluation: During your initial consultation, your Nuvia surgeon will evaluate your oral health (through a non-invasive 3D scan, no exam needed) and determine if a bone graft is necessary for dental implant placement.

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Graft Placement and Implant Installation:

The bone graft material is placed into the jawbone using surgical techniques, and the dental implants are placed immediately afterward. The area is then closed with stitches.

Restoration:

At Nuvia, you'll receive your brand new set of permanent teeth the very next day, so you can leave our office with a full and beautiful smile.

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Once you have your new smile, you'll return home to continue healing. While healing typically takes a few months for the bone to grow and the implants to fully integrate, our streamlined process means that you can enjoy your new teeth sooner and with less discomfort. With Nuvia, you can feel confident that you're receiving our highest level of care and our most efficient and effective bone grafting process possible.

Is Bone Grafting for Dental Implants Painful?

We take extra steps to ensure our patients' comfort during bone grafting for dental implants. We take great pride in having both a dental surgeon and a licensed anesthetist to put all of our patients to sleep under general anesthesia during every procedure. This is to make sure you have comfort and peace of mind knowing that we are taking care of you. Most patients don't even notice they received a bone graft during the procedure!

Any discomfort during the healing process can be managed with pain medication as needed, along with an emphasis on caring for your dental implants post surgery. With our advanced techniques and personalized care, you can feel confident that your bone grafting procedure will be as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

If you're considering dental implants but have been told that you don't have enough bone in your jaw to support them, just remember you have options and a bone graft may be a solution. At Nuvia Dental Implant Center, we offer a variety of bone grafting options to ensure that you have a strong and stable foundation for your dental implants. By taking our 60-second quiz, we will be able to identify if you are a candidate for dental implants. A Nuvia professional will then contact you and provide you with more information and answer any questions you may have.

Sources:

Title: Xenografts in Periodontal and Implant Bone Regeneration: A Systematic Review

Journal: International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants

Year: 2017

Authors: Huijie Yang, Renyuan Gao, Xiaoyu Xu, and Yufeng Zhang

Volume: 32

Issue: 1

Pages: e9-e22

DOI: 10.11607/jomi.4897

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Title: Bone grafts, bone substitutes and orthobiologics: the bridge between basic science and clinical advancements in fracture healing

Journal: Organogenesis