Bone Grafting for Dental Implants

Delay in implant placement results in poor quantity of bone which is not sufficient to place a dental implant without an additional procedure called bone grafting. Bone grafting procedures may be performed prior to or during surgical implant placement.

 Advantages of bone grafting 

• Increase the width and height of bone to allow surgeon to place implant
• Improve aesthetic and functionality 

Types of bone grafts

The bone may be obtained from various sources. 

• Autograft: Patient’s own bone, which is taken mostly from the jawbone. It contains living cellular elements to enhance bone growth and eliminate the risk of rejection of the graft material.
•  Allograft: Derived from human source. This serves as a framework for bone to grow over. Unlike autogenous bone, allogeneic bone cannot produce new bone on its own.
•  Xenograft: Derived from the non-living bone of another species, usually a cow. The bone is processed at very high temperatures to avoid potential immune rejection and contamination.
•  Alloplast: Synthetically made in a laboratory. Some combinations may include a collagen/ceramic composite, which closely resembles the composition of natural bone.

Risks associated with bone grafting 

General surgical risks are pain, infection, swelling and bleeding. Sinus issues are possible but very rare. With bone grafting there is also the risk of the graft failing to be converted into living bone, either partially or completely.