Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure performed by our oral surgeon in Huntersville, NC, to restore or augment bone lost or damaged due to trauma, disease, or other factors. During the procedure, bone tissue is harvested from the patient's body, a donor source, or synthetic materials and placed in the deficient area. This graft material serves as a scaffold, stimulating the body's natural healing process and promoting the growth of new bone.

Bone grafting is crucial for individuals who require dental implants but lack sufficient bone volume or density to support them effectively. Additionally, it benefits individuals with jawbone defects resulting from periodontal disease, tooth loss, or traumatic injuries. By providing a stable foundation for dental implants and restoring bone structure, bone grafting facilitates improved oral function, enhances facial aesthetics, and promotes long-term dental health and well-being.

Who Can Benefit From Bone Grafting?

Individuals With Missing Teeth

The primary beneficiaries of bone grafting are individuals with missing teeth seeking dental implant placement. When a tooth is lost or extracted, the surrounding bone may deteriorate over time due to lack of stimulation. Bone grafting can augment bone volume in the jaw, providing a sturdy foundation for dental implants to be anchored securely.

By restoring bone density and volume, bone grafting enables individuals with missing teeth to regain full functionality and aesthetics, allowing them to eat, speak, and smile confidently.

Patients With Jawbone Resorption

Jawbone resorption, often resulting from tooth loss, periodontal disease, or trauma, can lead to significant bone loss and compromise oral health. Bone grafting in Huntersville, NC, offers a viable solution for individuals experiencing jawbone resorption by replenishing lost bone volume and density. Whether through major or minor grafting procedures, bone grafts stimulate new bone growth, fortifying the jaw and preventing further deterioration.

By addressing the underlying cause of bone loss, bone grafting helps preserve facial structure, maintain proper tooth alignment, and prevent complications associated with jawbone resorption. Contact us today to learn more! 

Individuals With Facial Trauma or Deformities

Facial trauma or congenital deformities can result in significant bone defects in the jaw, leading to functional and aesthetic concerns. Bone grafting plays a crucial role in reconstructive surgery for individuals with facial trauma or congenital anomalies by restoring bone volume and symmetry. Whether repairing fractures, correcting jaw misalignments, or rebuilding facial contours, bone grafting procedures offer a pathway to restoration and rejuvenation.

By rebuilding damaged or deficient bone, bone grafting helps improve facial aesthetics, restore proper function, and enhance the overall quality of life for individuals affected by facial trauma or deformities.

Patients Requiring Ridge Augmentation

Ridge augmentation is a typical application of bone grafting in dental implantology, particularly in cases where the jawbone has insufficient height or width to support dental implants. By augmenting bone volume along the ridge of the jaw, bone grafting enhances the structural integrity of the implant site, ensuring the optimal stability and longevity of dental implants.

Whether due to congenital factors, tooth loss, or resorption, individuals requiring ridge augmentation can benefit significantly from bone grafting, enabling them to pursue implant-supported restorations and achieve functional, natural-looking smiles.

Types of Bone Grafting Procedures

Major Bone Grafting

Major bone grafting is typically reserved for significant bone deficiencies, often resulting from trauma, congenital defects, or advanced periodontal disease. In this procedure, bone is harvested from donor sites such as the hip, tibia, or skull or obtained from synthetic sources. The harvested bone is then transplanted to the deficient area in the jaw, serving as a scaffold for new bone growth.

Major bone grafting may involve complex surgical techniques and require more extended healing than minor grafting procedures. It's commonly used in procedures such as ridge augmentation for dental implant placement, correcting jaw deformities, or reconstructing significant defects following tumor removal.

Minor Bone Grafting

Minor bone grafting, on the other hand, is employed to address smaller bone defects or augment bone volume in localized areas. Unlike major grafting procedures, minor bone grafting is typically performed using bone graft materials from cadaver bone, animal bone, or synthetic materials. These grafting materials are placed directly into the deficient area, stimulating new bone formation and integration.

Minor bone grafting procedures are often less invasive, with shorter recovery times, and are commonly used in dental implant surgeries to enhance bone support and stability around the implant site, as well as in socket preservation following tooth extraction to minimize bone loss and maintain optimal bone volume for future implant placement.

The Procedure for Bone Grafting

• Our oral surgeon at The Center For Oral Surgery & Dental Implants evaluates the patient's oral health and determines the need for bone grafting, typically through X-rays and examinations.
• Before the procedure, local or general anesthesia is administered to ensure the patient's comfort.
• If autogenous bone grafting is chosen, bone is harvested from another part of the patient's body, such as the hip or jawbone.
• The harvested bone or bone graft material is prepared for transplantation, often in the form of granules, blocks, or a putty-like substance.
• The recipient site in the jawbone is carefully prepared by making an incision in the gum tissue to access the bone.
• The bone graft material is placed into the recipient site, either directly or secured with screws or pins, depending on the specific technique used.
• The gum tissue is sutured closed over the bone graft site to promote proper healing and integration.
• Over the following months, the bone graft material integrates with the existing bone, stimulating new bone growth and strengthening the jawbone.
• The patient attends follow-up appointments to monitor healing progress and ensure optimal outcomes.

Bone grafting represents a cornerstone of modern dental care, offering numerous benefits for individuals facing bone loss or jaw defects. Visit The Center For Oral Surgery & Dental Implants at 9713 Northcross Center Court, Suite 100, Huntersville, NC 28078, or call (704) 875-8833 to explore the transformative benefits of bone grafting.