If you are looking for a full smile reconstruction, dental implants may be at the top of your mind. Unfortunately, many patients are not suited for this procedure because of a few reasons. One of the most common reasons you may not be a candidate for the dental implant procedure is bone density. If your jaw bone does not contain enough bone mass, your implants will not be permanently placed, causing dental implant failure. Bone grafting is extremely important to ensure the stability of your new teeth, so if your dentist recommends this procedure, you should heavily consider it. Bone grafting is extremely common prior to having your dental implants placed. While bone grafting does not just exist for the sake of dental implant procedures, they tend to go hand in hand.
The bone grafting procedure is when your doctor takes a piece of bone and places it in the jaw to create a stronger structure. When the bone is placed, the patient will go through a healing period where the bone fuses with the existing jawbone, creating a dense foundation once again. This foundation will allow for the implant to hold strong, and not fail. At the time you decide bone grafting is for you, your doctor will aid you in the bone grafting treatment and fill you in on the details surrounding the procedure.
Typically, a doctor will take a piece of bone from another part of the body, like the chin. If you choose to not use your own bone, there are other options to choose from:
- Autogenous (self-produced) bone comes from the person having the surgery and might be taken from the chin, or perhaps the hips.
- Allograft bone comes from other human donors, usually cadavers.
If you are in need of bone grafting prior to any procedure, or just need the extra density for your facial structure, Dr. Ansari and his team of specialists will be able to aid you through the procedure, and inform you of any other necessary details you may need.