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Bone Grafting
Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies or is resorbed. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In these situations in the past, most patients were not candidates for placement of dental implants.
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.
Bone grafting can repair potential implant sites with inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease or injuries. The bone is either obtained from a tissue bank or your own bone is used. Sinus bone grafts, known as direct or indirect sinus lifts, are also performed to replace bone height in the posterior upper jaw. In addition, special membranes may be utilized that dissolve under the gum and protect the bone graft and encourage bone regeneration.
Sinus Lift procedure
The maxillary sinuses are behind your cheeks and above the posterior upper teeth. Sinuses are like air pockets that have nothing in them. Some of the roots of the natural upper teeth extend up into the maxillary sinuses. When these upper teeth are removed, the bone height in the area tends to decrease, sometimes becoming very thin. Dental implants need bone to hold them in place. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to stabilize dental implants.
There is a solution called a sinus graft or sinus lift graft. Dr. Flynn enters the sinus in the area where the upper teeth used to be. The sinus membrane is then lifted upward and donor bone is inserted into the floor of the sinus increasing its height. After several months of healing, the bone becomes part of the patient’s jaw and dental implants can be inserted and stabilized in this new sinus bone.
The sinus graft makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants where as years ago there was no other option other than wearing loose dentures.
If enough bone between the upper jaw ridge and the bottom of the sinus is available to stabilize the implant well, sinus augmentation and implant placement can sometimes be performed as a single procedure. If not enough bone is available, the sinus augmentation will have to be performed first, then, once the graft has matured, the implants can be placed.
Ridge Augmentation
In severe cases of bone loss after a tooth is removed, the ridge becomes dramatically reabsorbed. A bone graft is placed to increase ridge height and/or width.This is a technique used to restore the lost bone dimension when the jaw ridge gets too thin to place conventional implants and is often employed in areas where teeth have been missing for several years. In this procedure, the bony ridge of the jaw is built up. A bone graft can be placed and allowed to mature for a few months before placing the implant. Minor defects in the bone dimension can usually be restored with particulate bone grafts and membranes. Larger defects are usually repaired by placing small blocks of bone at the site. The bone can be obtained from the patient or from a donor bank.
These grafts must be allowed to heal for a minimum of four months before implant placement can be accomplished.
