Bone & Soft Tissue Grafting

Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth begins to deteriorate. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. We now have the ability to grow bone where needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and esthetic appearance. The following are different types of bone graft procedures:

Sinus lift procedure

This procedure involves lifting the sinus membrane and placing the bone graft onto the sinus floor, allowing implants to be placed in the back part of the upper jaw.

Ridge-augmentation

In severe cases the ridge has resorbed and a bone graft is placed to increase the ridge height and/or width.

Distraction Osteogenesis

This technique repositions the bone into a more desirable position over time. Once the bone is in a better position to facilitate dental implants the implant placement is performed.

Bone Grafting Overview

For a brief narrated overview of the bone grafting process, please click the image on the left. It will launch our flash educational MiniModule in a separate window that may answer some of your questions about bone grafting.

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Platelet Rich Plasma

PRP is what is known as Platelet Rich Plasma. The substance is a by-product of your blood (plasma) that is rich in platelets. PRP permits the body to take advantage of the normal healing pathways at a greatly accelerated rate. Platelets perform many functions, including formation of a blood clot and release of growth factors (GF) into the wound. Thus, one can easily see that PRP permits the body to heal faster and more efficiently.

These procedures are commonly performed in our outpatient surgical suites under I.V. sedation. During recovery time, bed rest is recommended for one day and limited physical activity for one week, read After Bone Grafting for post operative care.

The oral and maxillofacial surgeon can improve both the quantity and quality of the hard tissue by completing a bone graft procedure. Skin grafts and soft tissue corrections can be utilized as well to improve the architecture of the soft tissues in the oral and maxillofacial region. Through oral reconstructive surgery with bone grafting, a solid foundation can be provided for dental implants and stabilization for teeth replacement. If you are considering dental implants, the surgeons of NTFOS will complete a thorough examination of your mouth and your medical and dental history will be reviewed.