Bone Grafting

Dr. Smith& Dr. Stern can perform various bone grafting procedures to restore and preserve aesthetics and oral function, as well as make dental implant placement possible.

Bone Grafting

In a healthy mouth, chewing preserves bone health by the tooth’s root stimulating new bone growth in the jaws. Bone loss is a common occurrence for patients who have untreated tooth loss, but it can also be caused by periodontal (gum) disease, facial trauma injury, and tumor.

Dental implants are a popular tooth replacement solution for patients who are missing a single tooth or multiple teeth. They restore the look, feel, and function of natural teeth and, because they also replace the tooth’s root, preserve jaw bone health. Visit our Dental Implants page to learn why so many patients are choosing dental implants as their preferred tooth replacement option.

However, bone loss in the jaw can become so severe where it cannot support a dental implant. The good news is that many hopeful dental implant patients can become successful candidates with the help of a bone grafting procedure. A bone grafting procedure works by replacing and restoring the bone that has been lost in a specific area. Bone grafting is also a useful and effective treatment for other oral surgery treatments, such as facial trauma.

Types of Bone Grafting

During a bone grafting procedure, granulated bone material (or other healing agents) is applied directly to the site where more bone is needed. This material can be sourced from another part of your body or a tissue bank.

Your individual treatment plan will determine the type of bone grafting treatment you will receive. At Greater Columbus Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center, we offer a couple of bone grafting procedures:

• Sinus lifts. The maxillary sinuses are located just behind the cheekbones and below the eyes. It is very close to the upper arch of the teeth. If a patient needs a dental implant placed in the upper arch but the oral cavity is too thin, a sinus lift procedure may be recommended. A sinus lift involves placing bone material to the upper jaw to augment the space between the sinus cavity and the upper arch. Depending on the available existing bone, a dental implant and sinus lift may be performed simultaneously to decrease overall treatment time.
• Socket preservation. A bone graft can be performed immediately following an extraction to prevent bone loss and prepare the empty socket for a dental implant. When the surgical site has healed, a dental implant can be placed as a long-term solution to preserving bone health and restoring oral function.

Did you know that a dental implant can even be placed immediately after an extraction? Check out our page on Immediate Implants to learn more.

Bone grafting procedures are extremely useful in oral surgery, especially for hopeful dental implant candidates. If you need a bone graft, dental implant, or any other oral surgery treatment, we encourage you to call Greater Columbus Oral Surgery & Dental Implants.