Dental Implants and Bone Grafts: What You Need To Know

Has your oral surgeon recommended a dental bone graft before placing a dental implant? You may wonder why and how these two surgical procedures work together.

In this blog, you will learn how bone grafting and dental implants complement each other to restore your oral health and smile.

Dental Implants: Restoring Your Smile

Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth and restore your oral function and appearance.

A dental implant consists of a titanium post inserted into the jawbone, serving as an artificial tooth root. This post provides a sturdy foundation for a replacement tooth.

Dental implants not only restore the look of your natural teeth but also help maintain bone health by stimulating the jawbone. This stimulation prevents bone loss often associated with missing teeth.

Bone Grafting: Building a Strong Foundation for Implants

Bone grafting is essential for patients with insufficient bone to support dental implants.

When a tooth is lost, the jawbone in that area can deteriorate over time. Bone grafting restores the bone structure and creates a stable foundation for dental implants.

Depending on the needs of the patient, bone grafting can be performed either before or during implant placement.

Learn more about The Benefits of Dental Bone Grafts: Building a Strong Foundation for Your Smile.

Bone graft materials include:

• Natural bone: Harvested from the patient’s body (e.g., hip, jaw, or chin).
• Human donors: Processed bone from a tissue bank.
• Animal sources: Sterilized bovine (cow) or porcine (pig) bone.
• Synthetic material: Artificial substitutes that promote bone growth.

Your oral surgeon may also use a protective membrane to protect the graft and encourage healing. These materials and techniques ensure the graft integrates with your natural bone, forming a solid base for the implant.

How Bone Grafting and Dental Implants Work Together

For a dental implant to remain stable, it requires sufficient bone density at the implant site. 

When the jawbone has been weakened by tooth loss, gum disease, or other factors, bone grafting rebuilds the area to provide the necessary support.

Once the graft integrates with the jawbone, the implant placement becomes straightforward.

Types of Bone Graft Procedures

Various types of bone grafts procedures address different needs:

• Socket grafts: Prevent bone loss after tooth extraction by filling the socket with graft material, a procedure known as socket preservation.
• Sinus bone grafts: Adds bone to the upper jaw near the sinuses, common for implants in the upper molar region, (commonly known as sinus lift).
• Block grafts: Use a piece of bone from the patient’s body or a tissue bank for major reconstruction.

In rare cases, advanced techniques like bone expansion or distraction osteogenesis may be required for severe bone loss.

Consultation Process

Your oral surgeon begins with a thorough evaluation of the density and volume of your jawbone, which includes diagnostic imaging such as a CBCT scan.. During this consultation, the surgeon will:

• Examine your medical and dental history to identify factors like osteoporosis, gum disease or bone loss and how they may impact on your treatment.
• Discuss your treatment goals and explain how bone grafting may improve implant success.
• Determine the type of bone grafting procedure needed, based on the extent of bone loss and the implant site.

Choose Concord Oral Surgery for Your Dental Needs

At Concord Oral Surgery, our team specializes in both bone grafting and dental implants.

Our oral surgeon, Dr. Barron will create a personalized treatment plan for your dental needs.He is uniquely qualified to perform dental implant surgery. He has maintained a practice in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Vaughan, Ontario since 2004.

To book an appointment at our oral surgery office in Vaughan, call (905) 669-2616 or complete the appointment request form.We are located at 3300 Highway 7 West, Suite 805.