A dental bone graft is a new term if you’ve never had dental work before. Dental bone grafting may not be as well-known as other dental procedures, but it’s crucial, especially when restoring your smile. So, what exactly is bone grafting, and why is it so important? Let’s find out more below.
What Exactly Is a Dental Bone Graft?
A dental bone graft is the surgical removal of diseased or damaged jaw bone from your mouth and replacing it with a transplanted bone generally taken from the hip, legs, ribs, or any other source.
Our bone cells can fix a break in our bone as long as it is not too large. However, a size able break, like a fracture, can result in significant bone loss, which demands a dental bone graft.
Types of Dental Bone Grafts
Depending on the source of the transplanted bone, there are four main types of dental bone grafts. These are:
- Autograft: In the Autograft technique, any of the patient’s bones (taken from another body site, generally the hip area) are transplanted to the operative site. This technique is the most common of all the grafting techniques. It has many advantages like it does not trigger an immune response and has a proven success record.
- Xenograft: In the Xenograft technique, we take the source bone from an animal (preferably a cow or pig) and transplant it into our bodies. However, the bone is treated thoroughly first to avoid any risk of disease transmission. Extensive testing is carried out to ensure that the external donor is compatible.
- Allograft: If the patient can not source a bone from his body and does not want to take it from an animal, he can take the source bone from a human donor or a human tissue bank. This grafting technique is also commonly used in surgery, has a low disease transmission rate, and has a proven track record of success.
- Alloplastic Grafts: Alloplast is a synthetic material that can be used in your body as an alternative to a bone graft. Materials such as hydroxyapatite, calcium, and phosphorus are used to make alternative bones. Alloplastic grafts are manufactured in a laboratory under the most stringent hygiene standards.
When Do You Need a Dental Bone Graft?
The list of reasons people may need bone grafting is long, with cosmetic and functional needs. You may require a graft when you:
- have a missing tooth
- have a periodontal disease for an extended period
- have misaligned teeth.
- are planning to get dental implant surgery, etc.
The Procedure for Getting a Dental Bone Graft
The entire process of getting a dental bone graft is a bit lengthy. We’ve broken it down into smaller sub-sections for our readers’ ease.
What Happens Before a Dental Bone Graft
Before initiating the procedure, your dental surgeon will check your mouth to ensure everything is in good shape. Imaging tests like X-rays and CT scans are often necessary before the grafting surgery. These tests help the doctor understand what they will work on during your surgery.
Next, your dentist will discuss anesthetic and sedation options with you and may ask you to stop the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and certain medications you may be taking.
What Happens During a Dental Bone Graft
The dentist will numb your mouth before making an incision in the gums. The incision helps access and clean out any areas with infected bone tissues or experiencing bone loss. The grafting material is then placed at this location, ensuring reliable healing with no complications from shifting around or getting stuck under the adjacent tooth(s).
A membrane often covers this area to protect against dirt or bacteria getting inside it while healing occurs. Finally, they close up the incision site with stitches, completing another successful procedure!
You’ll be able to take care of your oral health without worrying about brushing too hard when you have these procedures done by the dental experts at River’s Bend Family Dental Clinic.
What Happens After a Dental Bone Graft
Most people experience swelling and soreness for a few days post dental bone graft surgery. You will start to feel better in a week or two.
A week is required for the stitches to dissolve fully. The bone graft starts to assist the bone growth, and the complete bone is regenerated in about six months.
Complete healing can take up to 3 to 9 months, which varies from person to person and depends on various factors like the age and general health of the patient, type and location of the graft, and your body’s ability to repair.
Pain relievers and antibiotics are prescribed individually to alleviate any postoperative complications. It is crucial to follow all the directives of your dental surgeon to ensure a smooth and swift recovery.
Tips for Post-Graft Care
The following aftercare tips from dentists from River’s Bend Family Dental can help ease post-graft complications :
- Eat only soft and healthy foods full of proteins and fibers for a few days, which will help you heal quicker.
- To reduce swelling, apply ice packs to your face (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off).
- If you develop bruises, apply hot packs to the affected area for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.
- For the first few days, avoid intense rinsing.
- Brush the adjacent tooth surfaces gently, so you don’t disturb the graft site.
- Replace gauze pads with the new ones when required.
- To help relieve pain, you can take pain relievers as prescribed by your dental surgeon.
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol consumption for the first two weeks following surgery.
Do Dental Bone Grafts Ever Fail?
The success rates for dental bone grafts are impressively high. However, as is the case with any procedure, there’s always a chance things could go wrong, especially if you smoke or have certain medical conditions like diabetes, which can affect your body’s ability to heal itself properly.
Usage of inappropriate material may also be a reason for graft failure. If a failure occurs, it may show up one day through:
- Increase in pain or swelling around extraction sites
- Pus, or drainage from the operation site
- Gum recession
- No significant increase in jawbone volume
Complications Involved in a Dental Bone Graft
Bone grafts in your mouth can be an excellent fix for some common problems with missing or damaged teeth. Bone grafts are relatively safe, and most people will tell us their procedure went smoothly due to proper planning and treatment.
Still, a few complications can take place. They are listed below:
- Infection
- Heavy bleeding
- Nerve injury
- Complications arising from the use of anesthesia
When Should I See My Healthcare Provider?
If you’ve had a dental bone graft, you should be aware of some red flags. If you notice these, contact your dental healthcare provider immediately:
- An unwanted drug reaction
- Significant swelling
- Persistent pain
- Pus around the drainage site.
- Heavy bleeding from the operation-site
- Sustained fever of 101° or higher.
Looking for a Dental Bone Graft? Avail the Services of Our Expert Dentists at River’s Bend Family Dental Clinic Now!
Are you looking for a team of experienced specialists who have successfully performed thousands of dental bone grafts? Look no further than River’s Bend Family Dental.
At our dental clinic, we use allogeneic bone grafts. These are human-donated freeze-dried cadaver bones that are FDA-approved, free of organic matter, and guaranteed safe for transplant.
If you are missing bone in your jaw or are planning to get implants, come to River’s Bend Family Dental Clinic for a dental bone graft. We’ll help restore function and beauty to your smile. Contact us today to learn more.
