What is a Bone Graft?

In relation to dental treatment, a bone graft is a process used to build up a deteriorated jaw bone, in order to make it strong enough to firmly house a dental implant. When a jaw has been left without several teeth for an extended period of time, its structure will begin to break down and the bone will thin out, eventually fragmenting into the surrounding tissue. A jaw that is in this sort of state won’t be able to properly support a dental implant, as the titanium root has to be placed directly into the bone and allowed to bond with it over time, thus creating a synthetic tooth that performs almost exactly like the real thing. A bone graft is required to build up the width and shape of the jaw, so that it is capable of holding the implants securely.

There are several ways in which a bone graft is performed, some of which use slivers of bone from somewhere else in the patient’s body to rebuild the shrunken jaw; but there are cases where synthetic materials have been used, if the patient’s skeletal composition is not suitable. The recovery period after having dental implants fitted is normally around six months, but with a bone graft added on, the healing time can be extended quite a lot, because the new bone has to bond properly with the old one, before the titanium rods can be implanted.

In order to see whether you need a bone graft to support dental implants, your dentist will carry out x-rays, to build a picture of what condition your jaw is in beneath the surface – although, it is normally quite obvious to the naked eye if it is a dire state; deterioration of the jaw can change the shape of the face entirely, as well as the way you eat, speak, and smile.

What are the different types of bone graft?

Autogenous – This is the most commonly used grafting technique, whereby the surgeon takes a section of bone from another part of the patient’s body – normally the hip, as it is dense and has a lot of marrow, which keeps is strong -, and then surgically attaches it to what remains of the jaw bone. This is generally considered to be the most desirable method of transferring the bone from one area to another, as it has been proven to be the more successful than other techniques.

Allografts – As mentioned earlier, the structure of the human bone is not always ideal for this type of surgery, and a donor is sometimes required. The procedure is basically the same as with an autogenous graft, except the bone is coming from a different person, rather than the patient needing dental implants. Bone donations have to be carefully cleaned and tested before they can be used as part of this treatment, as they usually come from a deceased donor. In spite of the fact that the new jaw is built using bones from a dead person, there is a high rate of success with allografts.

Xenografts – If a human donor cannot be found, surgeons can also turn to the animal world for some help; cow bones are carefully tested and sterilised, then surgically grafted to the remaining structure. A lot of patients might feel uncomfortable with this process, but the bone is tested for compatibility and checked for disease before it is implanted. It’s important that the cow bone is a match for the patient’s anatomy, otherwise their body will begin to reject it, and the surgery will ultimately fail.

Alloplastic – In the case of alloplastic grafts, there is no natural bone used, the structure that is grafted to the patients face is completely man-made. A scientifically-developed material called calcium phosphate is shaped to resemble the jaw, and then fixed in place during an operation. There are two types of calcium phosphate used, one that is eventually absorbed and replaced by a natural bone structure, as the minerals from the body grow around it, and a second that remains in place permanently, supporting the implants for the duration of the patients life.

How is a bone graft carried out?

The different methods used during the process determine what sort of grafting procedure is suitable for the operation, i.e. if the patient is donating the bone themselves, or whether it is coming from another source – living, dead, or synthetic. If you are having a piece of bone taken from your hip, you will be admitted to a hospital theatre for this treatment, a dentist cannot perform it; you will be placed under general anaesthetic, then a small incision made along your hip bone will give the surgeon access to shave a small amount away, using specialist tools. Of course, if your new jaw bone is coming from a donor or you are having a calcium phosphate structure implanted, you won’t need to go through this part of the process.

When the jaw bone has been harvested, the surgeon will make another incision into your chin, in order to fuse the two pieces together. This is considered invasive, but not incredibly high-risk, compared to other kinds of surgery, and it has an impressive success rate, when carried out correctly. Autogenous grafts are thought to be more productive, as there is very little risk of the body rejecting the attached bone.

The operation itself does not take long to complete, but you will need to stay in the hospital at least overnight, so the anaesthetic can fully wear off, and your body can recover from the trauma of the surgery. The period of healing afterwards can be anywhere from three to six months, but you can help recovery along by taking care of yourself properly and not smoking.

For more information on how you could rebuild your smile from scratch, get in touch with the team at the Pearl Dental Clinic, the professional staff members are always available to discuss your needs and expectations, and to book you a consultation right away.