Is a Bone Graft Procedure After Extraction Normal?

A bone graft procedure helps to build up bone that may have been damaged or become unhealthy due to infection. You may have heard your periodontist suggest a bone graft procedure after your extraction and felt it was unnecessary. Or your last dentist may have suggested it was unnecessary and just removing the tooth was fine to get your smile back on track. Dr. DenineRice and her team feel differently and here’s why:

An extraction of a tooth can remove healthy tissue as well as unhealthy tissue. Dental tools and procedures have changed, and are more effective and efficient then in the past but this procedure is not always a clean-cut procedure depending on the tooth and the gum tissue around the tooth. Some dentists and periodontists may not be familiar with bone grafting procedures or be comfortable completing this procedure. Dr. Rice, performs this procedure often and knows the outcome for her patients is better when they have the healthy tissue they will need in order to place an implant after the tooth is extracted.

The bone is a necessary component for keeping your teeth in place. Without enough healthy tissue to accomplish this goal, the implant cannot hold.

For more information on Bone Graft procedures, contact Dr. Rice and her team!

Types of Bone Graft Surgery

There are different types of bone grafts that may be recommended if you having missing teeth and are going to have implants. A bone graft allows for bone to be added to the jawbone to produce a more stable structure for the implant to be attached to. An autogenous bone graft is where bone is removed from another part of the body and is harvested. Once the bone is harvested it is then placed in the correct location. The other two types of bone grafts that may be recommended are allograft and xenograft.

            Bone grafts that are taken from a bank are screened for diseases. When using bone from one of these banks they are incredibly careful and adhere to the same guidelines as tissue banks.

            Periodontist, Dr. Denine Rice says, “An allograft bone graft is when bone is either created in a laboratory and is considered man-made or synthetic when it is taken from a bone bank and placed in the mouth.  These two procedures have been done for over thirty years according to the, Oral Health Infectious Control center and are very safe when done with a trained periodontist.   Once the bone is ready to go, the procedure is relatively quick. A small area is cut where the bone needs to be placed, the bone is placed in the correct location and a barrier may be placed to protect the bone from the inside of the mouth while it is healing.

            After the procedure is completed Dr. Rice and her team will provide you with after-care instructions. While there is a short healing period, once you are healed, the implant will be able to be placed with a secure fit.

Bone Grafting Can Save Your Smile

Bone Grafting Can Save Your Smile

Unfortunately, if your periodontal disease runs away and get’s the best of your mouth, you may have some missing teeth. No need to be discouraged though, because there is a way to restore your smile. Having a full, set of pearly white teeth is important for a variety of reasons and your periodontist may recommend dental implants to replace any missing teeth you may have.

In order to replace your missing teeth with implants they have to be firmly placed to the jawbone. “Implants are the preferred method to replacing teeth,” according to periodontist Dr. Rice, “because they provide full function of your mouth. And to get the best results many times it means a bone graft will be recommended.”

There are a variety of different types of bone grafts and each one works a little differently. The most common type of bone graft is an Autogenous bone graft. This type of graft utilizes bone from another location in the body and will be implanted in your mouth. The bone maybe removed from the iliac section of the pelvis, the chin or the posterior third molar areas of the jaw. The bone will be harvested, but once this has occurred the procedure is very simple.

If the procedure is done a small slit in the area where the bone is going to be placed. It will be secured using one or two screws. A barrier may be placed in order to protect the site, then the site is securely closed and you are on your way to healing. This process does take a little while to heal before an implant can be placed. However, over time the bone will regenerate and provide the base you need for an implant to be securely placed in your mouth.

               

Why do I need Bone Grafting?

Bone Grafting is the replacement of bone into the site where an extraction has occurred. “Not everyone who has an extraction will be advised that bone grafting is necessary,” says Dr. Denine Rice. “It has little value if the tooth that is lost is a wisdom tooth, but if the extracted tooth was located in the front of the mouth, or was lost due to periodontal infection or trauma it might just be in your best interest to consider having it done.”

Bone grafting can be done with either harvested, natural bone or using a synthetic bone substitute. “Over time bone recedes, in order to maintain a healthy level of bone for tooth replacement, it is generally recommended a bone graft occur as quickly as possible after the extraction,” adds Dr. Rice, from Riverside Periodontics. 

While most people think of bone grafting and implant surgery together, even if you haven’t decided on an eventual restoration, you may want the bone level to stay stable. This can really be critical especially when the lost tooth is due to trauma and there is significant damage or if the area of concern is in the front of the mouth as cosmetics may be compromised long term.  And having a smile that radiates health is just one more way you can feel more confident out in the world.