If you live in the Pasadena area and need dental implants due to tooth loss, it’s possible you will also need a bone graft. When teeth have been missing for a substantial amount of time, the jawbone begins to recede and deteriorate because there are no tooth roots to stimulate jawbone growth. If you’d like to learn more about the bone graft procedure and different types of bone graft for dental implants, keep reading.
What Is A Bone Graft?
When it comes to dental implants, our doctors will determine whether or not you will require a bone graft before they are able to place your implants. But many people don’t know what a bone graft actually is. To make sure your jawbone is strong enough to fuse to your dental implants, our doctors will take part of a bone from another area of your body, or use synthetic bone grafting material, and attach it to your jawbone. Your body will have to heal for several months once the graft has been placed. This bone grafting process helps men and women have a strong jawbone ready to receive dental implants.
There are several different types of bone grafts available for Pasadena residents. These include:
1. Autograft Bone Graft
During this type of bone graft, our doctors will remove bone from the body of their patient’s own body, typically from the chin or hard palate. When men and women don’t have adequate bone tissue available from those areas of the body, our doctors may elect to take bone from the hip or shin. The benefit of an autograft is the low risk of bone graft rejection since the bone is coming from the patient’s own body. On the other hand, this type of bone graft means that our doctors will have to create an incision on another area of the body.
2. Allograft Bone Graft
Alllograft bone grafts are harvested from deceased donors. Before placing an allograft, our doctors will verify that the donor was free of any diseases or infections before the bone was harvested. This donor bone will also have to go through thorough treatments to make it compatible with their Pasadena patient. The main concern with using this type of bone graft for dental implants is the risk of an immune reaction or rejection.
3. Xenograft Bone Graft
Sometimes our doctors, or their patients, choose a xenograft bone graft when preparing for dental implants. This type of bone graft is taken from an animal – usually a cow or pig – and is processed so that much of what is left is made up of mineral components. Xenografts add amazing support to the site of the dental implants, and as the mouth and jaw heal over time, the body replaces the xenograft with new bone.
4. Alloplast Bone Graft
Another option for Pasadena men and women who are preparing for dental implants is the alloplast bone graft. This graft is either man-made or created from natural sources such as minerals. Benefits of alloplasts include the lack of risk for disease or infection from the graft and the acceleration of bone formation.
Lytle, Tate & Stamper Are The Surgeons For You!
We know the thought of having dental implants placed is daunting enough, let alone adding to it the possibility of needing a bone graft, but trust us, the process is worth it. Ensuring your jawbone is strong enough to receive and hold your dental implants is foundational to implant success.
If you’re ready to discuss dental implants, call our Pasadena office today at (818) 240-1805.
