Dental Bone Graft
Rebuild lost jawbone and create a stronger foundation for your teeth or dental implants. Highlands Ranch Periodontics & Implant Center provides advanced bone grafting and regenerative procedures for patients throughout Highlands Ranch and surrounding communities.
When Is a Dental Bone Graft Needed?
A dental bone graft may be recommended when the jaw has lost bone or when additional bone is needed to support a dental implant. Bone can gradually shrink after a tooth is lost, while periodontal disease and other conditions can damage the bone supporting existing teeth.
Common reasons for bone grafting include:
- Rebuilding bone lost to periodontal disease
- Preparing an area of the jaw for dental implant placement
- Preserving bone after a tooth extraction
- Rebuilding the width or height of the jawbone
- Increasing bone in the upper back jaw when the sinus limits available space for an implant
- Repairing localized bone defects caused by infection, injury, or previous tooth loss
Types of Dental Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is not a single procedure. The approach depends on where bone has been lost, how much needs to be rebuilt, and the reason for treatment.
Socket Preservation
Socket preservation is performed at the time of a tooth extraction to help limit bone loss as the extraction site heals. Graft material is placed into the empty socket to help maintain the dimensions of the ridge, particularly when a dental implant may be planned in the future.
Ridge Augmentation
Ridge augmentation rebuilds an area of the jaw that has lost significant width or height. It may be recommended when bone loss after an extraction, periodontal disease, or another condition leaves insufficient bone to support a dental implant.
Sinus Augmentation
A sinus augmentation may be needed when there is not enough bone in the upper back jaw to support an implant. The sinus membrane is carefully elevated so grafting material can be placed beneath it to increase the available bone height.
Other regenerative techniques may be recommended for bone loss around natural teeth or in more complex areas of the jaw. Your treatment plan will be based on the location and extent of the bone loss.
Bone Graft Materials
Several types of grafting materials can be used to support new bone formation. The material selected depends on the size and location of the area being treated and the goals of the procedure.
Common bone graft materials include:
- Autograft: Bone taken from another area of your own mouth and transferred to the treatment site.
- Allograft: Carefully processed donor bone used to provide a framework for your own bone to grow and regenerate.
- Synthetic graft material: Biocompatible materials designed to provide a scaffold that supports new bone formation as the area heals.
What to Expect During a Dental Bone Graft
Bone grafting procedures vary depending on the size and location of the defect. Treatment generally begins by numbing the area and creating access to the underlying bone.
The site is prepared and grafting material is carefully placed where additional bone is needed. A membrane may be positioned over the graft to protect and stabilize the area while new bone develops. The gum tissue is then repositioned and secured with sutures.
For more complex bone reconstruction, advanced regenerative techniques and specialized materials may be used to maintain the shape and stability of the graft while it heals.
Healing After a Dental Bone Graft
Mild swelling, soreness, and tenderness are common during the first few days after bone grafting and should gradually improve. You will receive detailed post-operative instructions for protecting the surgical site and keeping the area clean as it heals.
The gum tissue typically heals much sooner than the bone underneath it. New bone formation and remodeling continue for several months as your own bone gradually integrates with the grafted area.
If the graft was performed in preparation for a dental implant, Dr. Norouzinia will evaluate the site after the appropriate healing period to determine when it is ready for implant placement.
The Specialist Behind Your Care
Dr. Bahman (Mike) Norouzinia
Dr. Bahman (Mike) Norouzinia is a board-certified periodontist with advanced training in dental implants, periodontal surgery, and regenerative procedures. His experience in bone reconstruction allows him to treat both straightforward grafting needs and more complex bone deficiencies.
Schedule a Consultation
Highlands Ranch Periodontics & Implant Center provides bone grafting for patients who have experienced jawbone loss or need additional bone to support dental implant treatment.
Dr. Norouzinia will evaluate the treatment area and develop a grafting plan based on your anatomy, oral health, and long-term treatment needs.
FAQs About Dental Bone Grafting
The treatment area is numbed with local anesthesia before the procedure. Soreness, swelling, or tenderness afterward is normal and can usually be managed with over-the-counter medication as directed.
Initial gum healing usually occurs within the first few weeks, but the bone requires considerably longer to mature. Depending on the type and extent of the graft, several months of healing may be needed before the area is ready for the next stage of treatment.
Bone graft material looks like small granules or particles, similar to coarse sand. Its appearance can vary depending on the type of material used. Once placed, the graft is contained within the treatment area so it can provide a framework for new bone formation as the site heals.
Sometimes. If there is enough existing bone to provide initial stability for the implant, grafting and implant placement may be performed during the same procedure. When more extensive bone reconstruction is required, the graft is generally allowed to heal before the implant is placed.
Not every extraction requires bone grafting. However, the jawbone naturally begins to change after a tooth is removed, which can reduce the amount of bone available for a future dental implant. Socket preservation may be recommended when maintaining the dimensions of the extraction site is important for future treatment.
In some cases, regenerative bone grafting can be used to rebuild bone that has been lost around a natural tooth because of periodontal disease. Whether a tooth can be preserved depends on the location and extent of the bone loss, the condition of the tooth, and other clinical factors.
Highlands Ranch Periodontics & Implant Center provides dental bone grafting and advanced regenerative procedures in Highlands Ranch, including grafting to rebuild periodontal bone loss and prepare for dental implant placement. Treatment is provided by board-certified periodontist Dr. Mike Norouzinia.