Bone Graft Techniques

Dental implants solve problems caused missing teeth. When natural teeth are lost, the tooth roots are lost as well, causing the gradual onset of bone deterioration. This is because the tooth roots stimulate the jawbone to maintain its healthy structure; without the tooth roots, the bone loses its previously healthy mass and volume to become thinner with the passage of time.

Implants can continue the responsibility of the lost tooth roots by stimulating the jawbone, preventing further bone thinning. However, sufficient bone mass in the jaw area is needed before implants can successfully be placed, since the artificial tooth roots need to have a solid base to be attached to. In cases when the jawbone has deteriorated and is considered to be insufficient for implants placement, a bone graft can be done to resolve the issue.

Bone grafting is the addition of graft material to the jawbone to improve its volume and mass. The improved jawbone quality will provide the necessary base where the implants can then be successfully embedded. Depending on the case, there are several bone grafting techniques that implant dentists can do.

Techniques for Bone Grafting

Onlay Graft – This bone grafting method refers to the placement of the grafting material on top, or on the side of the existing bone structure. This is commonly used when the jawbone has thinned due to long-term tooth loss. The dental implants can be placed after the graft location has sufficiently healed, with the graft material completely integrated with the jawbone tissue.

Block Graft – As the name suggests, a block grafting technique involves the use of blocks of bone as grafting material. This block is carefully measured to precisely fit the location of the jawbone where implants will eventually be placed. Bone screws are used to hold the block of bone in place, and will be removed once the healing process is completed.

Interpositional Graft – This challenging bone graft technique involves using the patient's own bone, which is partitioned and moved into the position where it is needed for the placement of the dental implants. The risk of failure is very small with this technique, since the bone is the patient's own and carries its own blood supply.

Particulate Grafting – Using cancellous and cortical bone particles, this technique provides a shorter treatment time because the grafting material very quickly regenerates soft and hard tissue. As the healing period is shorter, the implants can be placed more quickly into the improved jawbone area.

a href=http://lifedentalimplants.co.uk/team-dr-azhar-a-u-sheikhDr Azhar Sheikh, founder of Life Dental Implants, is one of the UK’s most experienced dentists specializing in implant treatments.