Bone Grafting

Is Bone Grafting for Dental Implants?

Bakersfield dentists are more and more recommending a bone graft for dental implant as a alternate to traditional implant cases. This is especially true in the esthetic area. How the teeth look is influenced by the underlying bone and gum. If the tooth has been missing for some time the bone resorbs lower and the ridge becomes narrower. Optimum esthetic in this case is difficult without bone grafting.

Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies or is reabsorbed. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of a dental implant and may disrupt the normal facial contours. In these situations, most patients are not candidates for placement of dental implants, so bone grafting is necessary to create a solid foundation to which the implants can be mounted.  Without solid bone to adhere to the dental implant will not last and could easily over time become lose an unstable.

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. A Bone Graft For Dental Implant can repair implant sites with inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease, pathology or injuries. The bone can be obtained from a tissue bank or your own bone is taken from the jaw, hip or tibia. In some instances synthetic bone substitutes can be used alone or in conjunction with natural bone. In addition, special membranes may be utilized that dissolve under the gums and protect the bone graft and encourage bone regeneration. This is called guided bone regeneration or guided tissue regeneration.