In recent years, bone grafting has grown in popularity as a dental procedure. This method increases the accessibility of dental implants and other dental restorations to more patients.
Thus, the staff at Nova Implant Centre would like to give you more information on bone grafting whether you are thinking about getting dental implants or other treatments or simply want to know more about it.
What is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is a dental procedure that involves adding new bone tissue to the jaw to support dental implants or other restorative operations. This makes the jaw stronger and denser.
To increase the amount of bone in the jaw, a small piece of bone from another part of the patient’s body, synthetic bone material, or bone from a donor must be used. A strong foundation for the implant or other restorative therapy is subsequently created when the bone graft gradually fuses with the jaw’s natural bone.
The surgery can take many hours to complete and is normally carried out under local anaesthetic. The patient must wait several months after the bone transplant procedure for the new bone to merge with the jaw’s natural bone. The process is called osseointegration.
Who Can Get Bone Grafting?
Depending on their dental requirements and general health, a variety of patients may benefit from the bone grafting operation. Bone grafting is not, however, an option for everyone. The following elements could influence a patient’s suitability for bone grafting:
Good general health is necessary for bone grafting, a surgical technique that necessitates anaesthetic and necessitates a recovery period. To guarantee that they can tolerate the treatment and recuperate adequately, patients should be in good general health. Bone grafting may not be an option for patients with certain medical conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes.
Substantial Loss of Bone Tissue
Bone grafting is normally only required when there has been a large quantity of jawbone lost. This may be an option for patients who have lost one or more teeth, suffered from gum disease, or sustained an injury. However, the operation might not be required if there is enough bone in the jaw to sustain a dental implant or restoration without additional bone grafting.
Excellent Oral Hygiene
Before receiving a bone graft, patients should practice good oral hygiene and be free of any current gum disease or infection. For the surgery to heal well thereafter, a healthy mouth is necessary.
Patients should have reasonable expectations regarding the results of bone grafting. Although the technique can support dental implants or other restorations and help rebuild the jaw’s bone, it might not always produce the best results. Before having a bone graft, patients should talk to their dentist or oral surgeon about their expectations and aspirations.
What Conditions Require Bone Grafting?
Many dental disorders may call for bone grafting. The following are some typical justifications for bone grafting recommendations:
When a tooth is lost or pulled, the supporting bone may begin to resorb or shrink. This can make it difficult to insert dental implants or other restorations and can cause the neighbouring teeth to move or become loose. In these situations, a bone transplant can be required to strengthen the jawbone and create a solid base for the implant or rehabilitation.
If the gums and bones that support the teeth are infected by gum disease, they become weak and lose density. In extreme circumstances, the bone may sustain damage and begin to degenerate. Bone grafting could be required to rebuild the bone and support the remaining teeth because this can result in tooth loss.
Trauma or Injury
Loss of bone may result from mishaps or wounds to the jaw or teeth. For instance, the bone that supported a tooth may begin to resorb if it is knocked out. Surgery may be necessary to repair the jaw’s damaged bone and support the teeth.
Some persons are born with a congenital flaw that interferes with the jawbone’s growth. For instance, some people may have a cleft lip or palate, which alters the jaw’s size and shape. In certain circumstances, bone grafting might be required to address the issue and restore the jaw’s ideal form and functionality.
Restoring the bone and supporting the teeth after the excision of a tumour or cyst from the jaw may necessitate bone grafting.
Generally speaking, bone grafting is a reliable surgery that can help the jaw regain its strength and functionality. Bone grafting may be required for your particular dental issue depending on the evaluation of your individual needs by your dentist or oral surgeon.
How is Bone Grafting Performed?
Bone grafting is a procedure that involves the following steps:
- A consultation with a dentist or oral surgeon is the initial stage of the bone-grafting procedure. The dentist or surgeon will assess the patient’s dental health during the consultation to determine whether bone grafting is required. In addition, they will go over the procedure’s risks, advantages, and anticipated results with the patient.
- The patient will undergo anaesthesia before the procedure to ensure that they remain relaxed and pain-free throughout the operation. The extent of the bone grafting treatment will determine whether the patient has general anaesthetic, IV sedation, or local anaesthetic.
- Harvesting bone material from another area of the patient’s body, such as the hip, tibia, or jaw, is the next step in the bone grafting technique. A small portion of the bone will be removed by the dentist or surgeon after making an incision at the donor location. Following processing, this bone material will be ready for implantation into the jaw.
- The dentist or surgeon will create an incision in the gum tissue at the location of the jawbone loss once the bone material has been retrieved and processed. The bone graft material will next be applied to the location where the bone was lost, and it will be fixed in place by screws, pins, or plates.
- The patient will need to give the bone time to mend and integrate with the jawbone after the bone grafting process. Depending on the size of the graft and the patient’s unique healing process, this may take many months. Patients will require rigorous oral hygiene during the healing process to avoid infection and accelerate healing.
- The patient can have dental implant surgery after the bone has completely recovered and integrated with the patient’s natural jawbone. The implant will be inserted into the jawbone and given many months to integrate with the bone tissue.
What is Needed for Bone Grafting Aftercare?
To ensure that the bone graft heals properly and integrates with the existing jawbone, aftercare is a crucial component of bone grafting surgery. Following a bone grafting treatment, the following general aftercare instructions are provided:
Rest and Healing
For at least a few days following the treatment, patients should avoid severe physical activity and only relax. Smoking should also be avoided as it can hinder the healing process and raise infection risks.
To assist control pain and avoiding infection, the dentist or oral surgeon may recommend antibiotics or painkillers. People should follow the directions on these medications and inform their dentist or surgeon if any negative effects occur.
To lower the risk of infection, patients should practice proper oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly. They should also rinse their mouths with salt water or a prescription mouthwash. They must refrain from using mouthwash with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide because these substances can irritate the gums and impede the healing process.
Patients should consume soft foods and stay away from crunchy or hard foods that could injure the surgical site or dislodge the bone graft. Also, they ought to refrain from using a straw when drinking because doing so might lead to suction in the mouth and an increased risk of bleeding.
To track the healing process and make sure the bone graft is properly integrating with the patient’s natural jawbone, patients should show up to all follow-up visits with their dentist or oral surgeon.
Keeping The Surgical Site Free of Pressure
Pressure should not be applied to the surgical site to prevent the graft from being dislodged or the healing process from being impeded. Patients should refrain from doing any activity that could put pressure on or traumatize the area on the side where the bone transplant was implanted.
Nova Implant Centre – Ottawa’s Denture & Implant Experts
Bone grafting is a very efficient dental technique that can assist to fortify and rejuvenate the jawbone, laying the groundwork for sturdy dental restorations. Bone grafting can help you regain your oral health if you’ve lost bone mass in your jaw as a result of periodontal disease, trauma, or heredity.
Please contact us if you need expert dental care. Nova Implant Centre is Ottawa’s premier provider of dental implants and other dental restorations. We can act as a one-stop dental care facility because of our highly skilled team, extensive knowledge, ongoing training and education, and a full complement of contemporary dental tools. This allows you to receive the best dental and implant treatment possible from a single team of doctors without needing a referral.