Supplying bone graft material (autografts) from your own body decreases the risk of complications like rejection and infection.
The first step is coming in for a visit and evaluation. Before proceeding, we want to ensure that this procedure is a good match for you. The evaluation visit involves a consultation, an oral exam, and X-rays. Not all patients will need a bone graft, though, and some may proceed with dental implants following this step. If you do need a graft, we move on to selecting the material.
Choosing what bone graft material comes next. While autographs (bone material from your own body) are highly popular, other options exist as well. You can receive bone material from another donor (allograft) or from material developed from animal bones (xenograft). Each option has its own advantages and suits different patient needs.
Next comes the day of your grafting procedure. Proper and precise graft placement is crucial to seeing proper bone regeneration. First, your dentist accesses the jawbone through an incision. He then will carefully place the chosen bone scaffolding into the prepared section, often covering it with a membrane to facilitate healing. The incision is then closed. All of this can be done with only local anesthetic.
Bone grafting is a gradual process, so the longest part of the process is simply waiting for your body to build bone over the scaffolding. This natural process may take several months (3 to 9 months on average), but the end result is worth it. Once your body has fully integrated the bone graft material and built a new bone matrix over it, you can move forward with your dental implant procedure.
Bone grafting can be key to preserving facial structure after tooth loss.
Not necessarily. Patients with recent tooth loss tend to still have enough bone structure to support an implant already. Bone grafting is only necessary for dental implants if the jawbone has significant deterioration. During your consultation visit, we can conduct a full exam to let you know whether you need a grafting procedure or can proceed right away with dental implants. However, if bone grafting is a concern for you, we also offer other tooth replacement solutions like dental bridges.
You will need to wait for your jawbone to fully heal and integrate the bone material. We understand it can be frustrating to wait, but moving forward with implants too soon could put your oral health at risk. Bone regeneration times vary, but most patients will be able to get dental implants between 3 and 9 months following their bone graft.
Bone grafting materials can come from three types of sources: yourself (autograft), a cadaver (allograft), or an animal source (xenograft). Autografts have a lower chance of your body rejecting the material, which is usually taken from the hip bone. Only a very small amount is taken, so your donor site is not compromised. We source all allograph materials through accredited and responsible bone banks. Xenograph material usually comes from cow or pig bone and is prepared by a specialized laboratory.
The amount of material required for a bone graft is minimal and taken only from the outer part of the bone. This bone matrix is taken through a quick procedure using local anesthetic. The bone is harvested with a specialized instrument through a very tiny incision. Your hip bone (the usual donor site) will not be compromised at all. However, patients who would prefer not to use their own donor bone can opt for an allograft or xenograft.
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