A side effect of missing teeth or untreated gum disease is bone loss. When this happens, your oral surgeon may recommend bone grafting before beginning other treatments. Depending on your unique needs, bone grafting can be taken from various sources and transferred to your mouth.
What is Bone Grafting?
Bone graft is a material that adds volume and density to your jaw in places with bone loss. There are four main types of bone grafting used in dentistry:
- Autogenous (taken from your own body)
- Allograft (donated by another human)
- Xenograft (comes from an animal)
- Alloplast (synthetic)
The type used for your treatment depends on what your dentist keeps in stock and your specific needs.
Bone Graft Uses in Oral Surgery
Patients need bone grafts for various reasons, but some are more common.
Socket Preservation
A socket preservation graft is placed into the socket immediately following an extraction. It fills the space where the tooth used to be and prevents the tissue from caving in.
Sinus Lift
Your maxillary sinus is above your back teeth. If these teeth are missing, the sinuses can invade the empty space. Without a bone graft, an implant would not be ideal because it would infiltrate the sinus membrane. A sinus lift returns the sinus to its proper position, and a bone graft creates a solid foundation for future implants.
Ridge Augmentation
After missing teeth for a while, your jawbone begins thinning out. A ridge augmentation adds structure and volume to the jawbone to create a stable foundation for dental implants or other restorations.
Benefits of a Bone Graft
A bone graft can increase your eligibility for restorative treatment or dental implants. This material restores your jaw to its original form following extractions, periodontal disease, or trauma.
Bone Grafting in Beavercreek & West Chester
At Empire Dental Associates, our oral surgery team is experienced in placing various bone grafting materials. We provide bone grafting services in both of our Beavercreek and West Chester. Schedule an appointment today with Dr. Monto and our excellent oral surgery team today.
