Bone Grafting

Bone Grafting

Periodontal disease is the leading cause of bone loss in the oral cavity, although there are others such as infection within the jawbone, ill-fitting dentures and facial trauma. Bone grafting procedures are safe and predictable ways to replace lost bone tissue and encourage natural bone re-growth.

A bone graft may be required to create a stable base for dental implant placement (site development procedures), to halt the progression of and regrow bone around teeth due to periodontal disease (Guided Tissue Regeneration, “GTR”), or to make the smile appear more aesthetically pleasing (ridge modification for prosthetics). A bone graft may be utilized at the time of tooth extraction in order to prevent shrinkage of the jawbone during healing and to reduce the time required for bone healing.

There are several types of dental bone graft materials. Dr. Phillips will be happy to discuss the pros and cons of each of these to help you make the right decision for yourself.

The following are the most common:

• Autogenous bone graft - In this type of graft the bone is removed from elsewhere in the mouth and placed where needed.
• Allograft - Material that has been generously donated by an organ donor. This material is tested, processed and tested again. It has been used for over sixty years.
• Alloplast - Synthetic bone (manmade) can be created in the laboratory and used in the bone grafting procedure.
• Xenograft - This graft is derived from an animal, usually bovine (cow) or porcine (pig).

If you have any questions about bone grafting, Dr. Phillips will discuss this and answer all your questions.