Bone grafting is a dental procedure that is used to reconstruct and strengthen the jaw in cases whereby the patient has suffered a traumatic injury or disease that has compromised the amount of or quality of the bone within the jaw. Bone grafting is often performed by a maxillofacial surgeon, who best understands the way in which the jaw needs to be restored to ensure optimal function and appearance.

 

What Happens During Bone Grafting?

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure which means that it is usually performed using general anesthetic to ensure that you aren’t awake or in any pain. It can be performed anywhere on the body, but for the purpose of this blog, we are referring to its use within the jaw. Once you are suitably anesthetized, the bone graft will take place in several stages.

• Firstly, the area where the graft is to be placed will be assessed to determine how much bone is needed.

• The bone graft is then taken from another area of your body. In the case of bone grafts for the jaw, the bone is most often taken from the hip. The incision used to do this will be closed using sutures. In some instances, it is necessary to place a small drain into the area to remove any blood or fluid that may collect there following the surgery. 

• The new bone will be placed into the area of your jaw that has been identified as requiring it. The matrix cells, which are live cells within the bone, will seal themselves to the old bone over the course of a number of weeks or months. The bone is usually affixed with screws to secure it in place whilst healing takes place. The wounds created to access the bone will then be closed using sutures. 

Unsurprisingly, most patients experience swelling, bruising and pain both where the graft has been taken from and in the jaw itself. You’ll be given painkillers to help keep you as comfortable as possible and specific advice on what you should or shouldn’t do during the recovery process. In particular, you will need to take any medications as directed and should avoid smoking as this drastically increases your risk of complications. 

 

Preparing for Dental Implants

Bone grafting is also an essential procedure for some patients who are looking at getting missing teeth replaced with dental implants. It is recommended for those patients who don’t have enough natural healthy bone to support implants, which is a common occurrence when patients have been missing teeth for some time. This happens because there is no longer a root to stimulate the bone to remain strong and healthy. Since teeth are anchored into the jaw in an area of the bone called the alveolar ridge, it is important that there is enough of this part of the bone to support them. Without it, the jaw cannot support natural teeth nor dental implants. 

Bone grafting is usually performed at least several months before dental implants can be placed so that the jaw has time to heal and strengthen. This will add time to the overall treatment program for dental implants but enables those patients who otherwise might not be suitable candidates to undergo the procedure. Your dentist will be able to advise you if you will need bone grafting before getting dental implants. 

If you would like more information about bone grafting for jaw reconstruction or in the process of getting dental implants, please don’t hesitate to contact our oral surgery offices in Aiea, HI or Honolulu, HI where our knowledgeable team would be delighted to help.