Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that rebuilds jawbone structure lost to tooth extraction, gum disease, or trauma. At The Dental Difference in Brick, NJ, Dr. Mosmen performs bone grafting to create a stable foundation for dental implants and preserve the natural contours of your jaw and face.
When bone loss threatens your ability to receive implants or causes aesthetic changes to your facial structure, bone grafting provides a proven solution.
Rebuilding Jawbone Structure
The jawbone requires stimulation from tooth roots to maintain its density and volume. When teeth are missing, the bone beneath begins to deteriorate through a process called resorption. Over time, this bone loss can become severe, creating a sunken facial appearance, making implant placement difficult or impossible, reducing the stability of dentures, and affecting bite alignment.
Bone grafting rebuilds lost bone by placing graft material in the affected area, which stimulates new bone growth and restores proper bone height and width.
Causes Of Bone Loss
Bone loss in the jaw occurs for several reasons, including tooth loss from extraction or trauma, gum disease that destroys the bone supporting the teeth, tooth infections that spread to the surrounding bone, wearing dentures without replacing lost teeth, and natural aging processes that affect bone density.
The longer bone loss continues untreated, the more difficult and extensive the reconstruction becomes.
Bone Grafting Materials Explained
Several types of bone graft material can be used depending on your needs and the extent of bone loss.
- Autograft uses bone taken from another area of your own body, typically the jaw or chin. This is the gold standard because your body readily accepts its own tissue.
- Allograft uses sterilized donor bone from a tissue bank. This eliminates the need to harvest bone from your own body.
- Xenograft uses bone from animal sources, typically bovine, that has been processed to be biocompatible.
- Alloplast uses synthetic materials designed to mimic natural bone and promote bone growth.
Dr. Mosmen will recommend the graft material that provides the best outcome for your specific situation.
Healing & Integration Process
After bone grafting, the graft material serves as a scaffold for new bone growth. Over the next several months, your body gradually replaces the graft material with natural bone in a process called osseointegration.
Healing Timeline:
- Initial healing takes one to two weeks
- Bone maturation requires four to six months
- Complete integration continues for several additional months
During this time, the grafted bone becomes part of your natural jawbone, creating a stable, permanent foundation for implants or other restorative work.
Supporting Future Implants
The primary reason for bone grafting is to create adequate bone volume for successful dental implant placement. Implants require sufficient bone height, width, and density to integrate properly and provide long-term stability.
Without adequate bone, implants cannot be placed safely or successfully. Bone grafting makes implants possible for patients who would otherwise lack the necessary foundation.
In some cases, bone grafting and implant placement can occur simultaneously. In other cases, the graft must heal completely before implants can be placed.
Bone Grafting Vs. Alternative Treatments
When bone loss is significant, the options are limited. Bone grafting creates a permanent foundation for implants, the most advanced tooth replacement option. Alternatives like dentures or bridges don’t require bone grafting, but also don’t prevent continued bone loss.
For patients who want the best long-term outcome, bone grafting combined with dental implants is the gold standard. It’s the only option that both replaces teeth and preserves bone structure.
Maintaining Jaw Health
After successful bone grafting and implant placement, maintaining your results requires protecting the bone you’ve rebuilt. Dental implants stimulate bone just like natural tooth roots, preventing future bone loss. Good oral hygiene prevents gum disease that can destroy bone. Regular checkups allow Dr. Mosmen to monitor bone levels and intervene early if problems develop.
Addressing tooth loss promptly with implants prevents the bone loss that necessitates grafting in the first place.
Rebuild
Your Foundation
At The Dental Difference, bone grafting is performed with precision and care to create the foundation needed for successful implant placement and long-term oral health. Dr. Mosmen's surgical expertise ensures excellent outcomes for even complex grafting procedures. Call our Brick, NJ office or book online if you've been told you don't have enough bone for implants or if you're experiencing bone loss. Dr. Mosmen will evaluate your situation and create a treatment plan that rebuilds your foundation.