Bone Grafting in Long Island City
Rebuilding the foundation for a healthier, stronger smile.
What Is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that replaces or augments missing bone in the jaw. At Gantry Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, your doctor uses this technique to restore bone loss caused by tooth extraction, gum disease, or injury. The procedure involves taking bone material from another part of the body, a donor, or using synthetic materials to build up the jawbone, creating a solid base for dental implants or a future dental prosthesis.
Types of Bone Grafts
Socket Grafting for Ridge Preservation
When teeth are removed, the surrounding bone tends to ‘collapse’ and thin out over the next few months. This can compromise the ability to replace the tooth/teeth in the future. By filling the tooth socket in the jaw with bone graft at the time of extraction, the collapse of the bone is limited, and tooth replacement options are greatly improved.
Ridge Grafting
If teeth have been missing for a long time, the tooth-bearing area of the jawbone is usually very thin. Placing implants, a fixed bridge, or even dentures over this kind of bone can be problematic. By expanding the existing bone and/or layering new bone over it, we can increase the width and allow tooth replacement that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.
Sinus Lift
Teeth in the back of the upper jaw are usually close to the maxillary sinuses, which are air-filled spaces in the skull at the sides of the nose. If dental implants are planned in this area, the bone height may not be enough to provide the necessary stability. Adding bone at the floor of the sinus increases this height and ensures the implants are fully contained in bone as intended.
BMP
Bone morphogenetic protein is the latest advancement in bone regeneration science. As a concentration of the factor the drives bone development, it allows significant growth of the hard tissue needed for repair of bony defects.
Have questions? We've got answers.
FAQs
Is bone grafting necessary?
Generally the need for grafting is driven by the end goal. Maintaining bone for future tooth replacement, preventing bone loss on an adjacent tooth, or preventing a contour deformity are all some reasons grafting might be necessary. In cases where there is no plan to replace missing teeth, grafting may not be needed. We’ll discuss the specifics of your case at your consultation visit.
Where does the bone graft material come from?
There are several types of bone graft materials available. Based on your individual needs, we’ll advise on the most appropriate material for your case:
- Autograft: Bone taken from some other part of your body. Another part of the jaw is most commonly used, although the hip and lower leg are good minimally-invasive options for obtaining larger quantities of bone when needed. While autograft provides the best quality of bone, it does require a second surgical site and procedure to obtain it.
- Allograft: Bone from a tissue bank, provided by a human donor. This is sterilized and processed to bring the risk of disease transmission to nearly zero, although a theoretical risk does still exist. The bone quality is very good, and is a close second to autograft. As no second surgery is required, allograft is usually the graft material of choice in most instances.
- Alloplast: Synthetic material designed to allow natural bone to fill in around it. This is sometimes used when other types of bone are not feasible, practical, or desired. Depending on the application, the quality of bone that results can still be quite good.
- Xenograft: Bone from an animal source, usually bovine (cow) or porcine (pig). This is less frequently used, but has a role for cases where slow incorporation of the graft is desired.
How long does it take it heal?
Healing times vary significantly depending on the type and size of the graft. For single tooth socket grafts, there is generally a few days of minor discomfort, which resolves fully around 7-10 days. Larger grafts may take a few days longer. Maturation of the grafted bone to a point where implants can be placed, however, can take several months, depending on the exact nature of the graft. We’ll monitor the healing progress at your follow-up appointments to determine when the graft is ready for the next step.
What types of bone graft materials are used?
There are several types of bone graft materials available:
- Autografts: Bone taken from another part of the patient's body, often the jaw.
- Allografts: Bone from a human donor, always processed and sterilized.
- Xenografts: Bone from an animal source, usually bovine or porcine.
- Alloplasts: Synthetic materials designed to mimic natural bone.
The doctor will discuss the most appropriate option based on the patient's specific needs, the size of the graft required, and other individual factors.
Can the bone be rejected?
Bone grafting actually tends to be a very predictable procedure. While the graft materials are clear of any substances that would trigger an immune reaction, contamination and loss of the graft is a possible, but rare, complication. We’ll review aftercare instructions at your visit to minimize this risk. Most patients have no issues when they do their part to keep the graft site clean and protected.