Bone grafting is a fairly common procedure to help prepare a patient for dental implants, and one our North Delta dentist practice performs on a regular basis. In a bone grafting procedure, our surgeon will either remove a section of bone from a different part of your body, or use a special type of bone grafting material.
Why You Might Need Bone Grafting
Dental practitioners recommend bone grafting when patients don’t have enough natural, healthy bone in their mouths to support the dental implants they need. The absence of natural bone may be the result of developmental defects, gum disease, facial injury or trauma, or bone loss that takes place after teeth are removed. When consulting with our implant dentist Delta patients may find we even recommend bone grafting soon after tooth loss or extraction, if the socket is unsuitable for the implant for any reason.
Types of Bone Grafting
The method of bone grafting we recommend for each patient depends on their individual circumstances, including the location of the missing tooth. Several types of bone grafting are practiced by our Professional Dentist in North Delta, for example:
#1 Socket Grafts
This is the most common type of bone graft, and its main purpose is to prevent the short-term deterioration of the alveolar bone before it begins. This works by placing bone from a human donor into the tooth socket to prevent it from collapsing. Once this heals, you’ll be able to have your implant fitted in 4 to 6 months, and the graft will reduce the pain you experience from the implant surgery.
#2 Lateral Ridge Preservation
This type of bone graft is used to widen the jawbone to enable it to take a dental implant. Our North Delta dentist practice usually uses human donor bone for this type of graft too. This procedure also takes 4 to 6 months to heal.
#3 Block Bone Graft
We use this type of graft when there are large sections of the jawbone that are defective. A small section of bone is harvested from the back of the jaw, placed into the defective area and secured with small titanium screws. Healing time is about the same as for the lateral ridge preservation.
#4 Sinus Lift Procedure
This procedure is used by our implant dentist in Delta for patients who need an upper jaw implant, because the upper is usually not sufficiently stable to hold implants on its own. Equine bone is added to the human donor bone, because it is very similar to human bone with the exception that it doesn’t dissolve as quickly. The equine bone provides support for the human bone to grow inside the sinus cavity. This bone grafting process takes between 8 and 12 months to heal.
In some cases, patients who need only a minor bone graft might be able to have it done at the same time as their implant surgery. The qualified practitioners at our North Delta dentist practice will be able to take that decision.
Is Bone Grafting Painful?
Bone grafting is not usually a painful procedure, and it is performed on an outpatient basis by our Professional Dentist in North Delta under general sedation. After the procedure you’ll receive antibiotics to prevent infection and pain medication if you need it. Once the bone graft heals and fuses with your natural bones, you’ll be ready to have your dental implants fitted. There is no specific timeframe for this process because each patient is different, but our implant dentist in Delta will examine you regularly and be able to tell you when you’re ready for the implants.
Next Steps
After your bone graft has completely healed, you’ll be ready to have the implant surgery performed. It’s important to discuss your entire personal medical history with our dentist in North Delta to ensure we understand all the risks and benefits of surgery in your case. If your dentist determines you are a good candidate for the procedure, you can look forward to having a brand new, long-lasting smile within the year.
For more information on bone grafting or dental implants, please schedule a free consultation* with our dental team.
