Bone Grafting
When a person loses a tooth/teeth, the bone supporting the tooth shrinks. The gum tissues will also shrink. In the aesthetic zone this could be unsightly especially if you have a high smile line. If there is not enough bone to support an implant then bone grafting techniques are utilised to build up the bone to provide a platform for implant placement.
bone can also be built up to create an acceptable tissue profile to support a tooth supported bridge or denture.
Today, we have the ability to grow bone where needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and esthetic appearance.
Bone is obtained from a number of different sources. Most commonly Dr Rosenberg utilises your own bone or bone from bovine origin (Bio-oss). Dr Rosenberg has over 15 years experience using the Bio-oss product.
Sinus Lift Procedure
The maxillary sinuses are positioned above the upper posterior teeth. Sinuses are like empty rooms that have nothing in them. Some of the roots of the upper back teeth lie in very close proximity to the maxillary sinuses. When these upper teeth are removed, there is often just a thin wall of bone separating the maxillary sinus and the mouth. Dental implants need bone to hold them in place. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to place dental implants in this bone.
To solve this a sinus elevation and bone graft may be performed. The sinus membrane is lifted up and donor bone is inserted below the floor of the sinus. After several months of healing, the bone becomes part of the patient’s bone and dental implants can be inserted and stabilized in this new bone.
The sinus graft is a highly predictable technique that Dr Rosenberg specialises in. It makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants when years ago there was no other option other than wearing dentures.
Ridge Expansion
In some cases, the bony ridge has been reabsorbed and a bone graft is placed to increase ridge height and/or width. This is a technique used to restore the lost bone dimension when the jaw ridge gets too thin to place conventional implants. In this procedure, the bony ridge of the jaw is literally expanded by mechanical means. Bone graft material can be placed and matured for a few months before placing the implant. These procedures may be performed separately or together depending upon the individual’s condition.
As stated earlier, there are several areas of the body that are suitable for attaining bone grafts. In the maxillofacial region, bone grafts can be taken from inside the mouth, in the area of the chin or third molar region, or in the upper jaw behind the last tooth.
In the many cases, our Periodontists may not use the patients own bone. They will use bovine bone (Bio-oss) to implement bone grafting for dental implants. It is effective and very safe. By using bovine bone it decreases the extent of surgery required as we do not have a donor site to manage as well. Dr Rosenberg has used bovine materials for over 15 years with great success.
Synthetic materials can also be used to stimulate bone formation. We even use factors from your own blood to accelerate and promote bone formation in graft areas.
These surgeries are performed under local anesthesia in our office. IV sedation is available in our practice or general anaesthesia is provided at one of our local day surgeries.