If you have missing teeth, dysfunctional teeth, or simply are not happy with the cosmetic conditions of your smile, implant restoration may be just the thing for you. Fortunately, most dental practitioners understand the mechanics of implant procedures and technology; however, this same understanding does not typically apply to that procedure’s foundations: that is, bone grafting. To help shed some light on this topic, here is a list containing critical information about bone augmentation for dental implants.
The Logic
Since implants are extremely compact, the longevity and ultimate success of the procedure is determined by the patient’s bone volume and whether or not there are defects due to infection or trauma. Prior to beginning treatment, the dentist must decide on a surgical technique and choose their grafting material. If this stage is not executed properly, the entire procedure could be compromised due to the graft material’s eventual reabsorption or sheer inability to integrate.
Bone Graft Locations
After a tooth is extracted, approximately fifty percent of the encompassing alveolar bone will eventually degrade. This creates unfavorable conditions that promote improper axial alignment on part of the implant. Fortunately, this is where socket and ridge preservation come in. Each procedure consists of implanting bone or bone substitute material into a socket or ridge in order to induce osteogenesis, promote ridge preservation, or fill the socket. Ultimately, the goal of ridge preservation is to minimize or outright eliminate any sort of follow up augmentation procedure. However, certain conditions must be met in order to ensure the success of the procedure.
Bone Graft Requirements
The three different types of bone healing and formation that occur after bone grafting are osteogenesis, osteoinduction, and osteoconduction. Additionally, the following conditions must be met in order for the graft to be successful: osteoblasts, which create new bone, must be present, the graft must be stable through the duration of the healing procedure, the patient’s blood supply must be able to provide adequate nourishment, and the patient’s soft tissue must be free from all forms of tension or strain.
Types of Grafts
Typically, when patients undergo a bone graft procedure, they are receiving an autogenous graft, which is where tissue is removed from one area of the patient’s body and transferred to another. Other types of grafts include allografts, which are grafts between members of the same species, xenografts, grafts taken from a different specifies, and alloplast, where an inorganic material is implanted into living tissue.