bone grafts

Bone loss from gum disease or prolonged tooth loss often results in not enough bone for implant placement; however, we can rebuild these areas with bone grafts. These procedures add bone to strengthen and reshape the tissue or bone you've lost to help provide the foundation for successful, long-term implants.

Bone typically comes from a healthy donor, which has been tested, cleaned, and irradiated. We also have options of bovine (cow) bone, or synthetic grafting materials for specific cases. These options allow for conservative, minimally invasive treatment with less pain and faster post operative healing. Using the Cone Beam CT scan, we will determine whether you require a bone graft and what type of bone graft that would be required. The two standard types of bone grafts include socket preservation and ridge augmentation.

socket preservation

If a tooth is extracted and an implant cannot be placed that same day a bone graft, or socket preservation, is performed. We extract the tooth, clean the area thoroughly, place the bone into the extraction socket, and place a protective membrane to cover the area. Socket preservation ensures we have adequate bone for future implant placement and a successful, long-term result. Typically a socket preservation takes approximately three months to heal.

Ridge Augmentation

If a tooth or teeth have been missing for a extended period of time we will have to rebuild the area with new bone - this procedure is called a ridge augmentation. Bone and teeth are like muscles and working out. When we workout we build up muscle; and when we stop working out, our muscles shrink. Similarly, when we have a tooth, we have bone to support that tooth; however, when we take out the tooth our bone begins to shrink. This ridge augmentation replaces the bone we lost. Typically ridge augmentations heal quickly, but take approximately four to six months for the bone to fully harden.