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Dr. Peter Doherty Explains The Bone Grafting Procedure At 3Dental
What Is A Bone Graft?
Dr. Peter Doherty Explains The Bone Grafting Procedure At 3Dental
The bones of your jaw act as the foundation for an implant. However, without sufficient bone support it is not possible to replace a missing tooth with an implant.
Bone grafting is the procedure of regenerating this missing bone.
Bone can be lost in a number of ways: gum disease, abscesses, trauma, and tooth extraction can all lead to bone loss.
Side note: In some cases, even with severe bone loss, we may be able to provide you with a zygomatic implant. When you turn up at your free consultation, your implantologist can advise.
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Bone Graft Recovery
Following a bone graft there is a wide variance in what people experience which is dependent on the size and location of the bone graft, the patient’s physiology, and any medications that the patient may be taking.
You would generally expect to experience mild discomfort, swelling and bruising. Any discomfort will be managed with pain relief medications.
Swelling generally reaches it’s maximum point after 12-24 hours and then begins to subside. After this time, bruising may develop in some but not all cases. We prescribe medications after bone grafts to prevent against infection, and to make the recovery process easier.
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Bone Graft Cost
The cost of a bone graft depends on the size and difficulty of the procedure, and also the type of materials used. The cost ranges from €400 for a socket graft to €2,000 for a large graft.
If using bone that comes from another source (i.e. a product that we buy in a packet from a dental supply company) the procedure tends to be shorter, but the product adds to the cost.
If using bone from your own body there are less costs incurred for bone grafting products, but the procedure takes longer and is more technically challenging.
Benefits Of Bone Grafting
Regenerates missing bone
Creates a suitable foundation for dental implant placement
The procedure is painless
Helps to ensure longer term success for your dental implants
Prevents against bone loss around implants
Enables the placement of dental implants in people who have been missing teeth
Bone grafting is a safe and highly successful procedure
Enables the placement of dental implants in people who do not have enough bone
The Bone Grafting Procedure & Case Studies
- During & After Assessment
- Bone Graft Timing
- Case Study Phase 1
- Case Study Phase 2
- Case Study Phase 3
- Recovery & Cost - Further Reading
- Post Bone Grafting Instructions
During & After Assessment
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During & After Assessment
At your implant assessment appointment, we will take a three dimensional scan (cone beam CT) of your mouth to determine exactly how much bone there is available.
If there is insufficient bone, we can regenerate the missing tissue by means of a bone graft.
This involves placing an artificial material underneath the gum which, in time, fuses with your own bone to provide a solid foundation for a dental implant.
Bone Graft Timing
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Bone Graft Timing
Small bone grafts may be carried out at the same time as implant placement, whereas larger grafts are generally carried out as a separate procedure and allowed mature for 3 to 9 months before an implant is placed.
Case Study Phase 1
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Case Study Phase 1
Bird's eye view of a missing front tooth on a CT scan.
The oval shapes with the black dots (nerves) in the middle are teeth.
Outlined in red, there is a tooth missing and the bone dips inwards. As you can see, there is insufficient bone to place an implant.
Case Study Phase 2
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Case Study Phase 2
This X-ray shows a snapshot of the regenerated bone (outlined in green) following a bone grafting procedure.
There is now enough bone available to place a successful implant and replace the missing tooth.
Case Study Phase 3
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Case Study Phase 3
Once the bone has been grafted, a computer is used for 'virtual implant planning'.
This planing allows dentists to choose the optimal size and position of the dental implant.
Recovery & Cost - Further Reading
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Recovery & Cost - Further Reading
Recovery
Bone grafts generally heal better in people who keep their mouths very clean afterwards with good oral hygiene, and non-smokers experience better recovery and superior results than smokers.
Cost
The cost for any grafting procedure are determined at the time of your implant assessment appointment by using a three dimensional x-ray of your mouth to detect and assess the presence and size of any bone defects.
We also offer payment plans for bone grafting procedures.
Post Bone Grafting Instructions
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Post Bone Grafting Instructions
- Do not rinse your mouth out excessively for 1 week as you can dislodge the bone graft. When rinsing, hold the liquid gently in your mouth and let it fall out into the sink - do not spit.
- Avoid excessive exercise and strenuous activity for the rest of the day.
- Do not drink anything hot or alcoholic or smoke a cigarette for 24 hours after grafting.
- No chewing on the side of the graft for 1 week.
- No brushing on the socket until sutures have been removed. It is important to keep the rest of your mouth clean by brushing and flossing your remaining teeth as normal.
Failure to comply with these instructions may re-start bleeding. You may feel sharp edges in the socket with your tongue and small fragments of bone may work lose. This is normal.
If you have been given antibiotics you must finish the course even if the pain and/or swelling has disappeared.
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Check out Our Happy Dental Patients
We have improved 100's of smiles using bone grafts at our Dublin, Limerick and Galway clinics.
But don't take our word for it!
Commonly Asked Questions
Why do I need a bone graft?
When a tooth is removed the part of the jaw bone holding it becomes redundant and begins to shrink away.
If you lose a lot of bone, there may not be enough remaining to securely hold an implant. A bone graft is then required to provide a solid foundation for your implant.
Is there an alternative to having a bone graft?
If you want an implant, but there is insufficient bone, then an implant is impossible without a bone graft.
Your alternatives would then be either a denture or a bridge.
What bone grafting material do you use?
Bone grafts can be derived from four sources:
1) Elsewhere in your own mouth
2) Animal sources
3) From a different person
4) A synthetic material
Can I choose which bone grafting material is used?
The choice of materials is dependant on the size and position of the defect. We choose the material most likely to give us the best result for each individual situation.
If you have an objection to using any particular material then let us know and will will choose an appropriate alternative.
What is the best bone grafting material to use?
This is totally dependant on the position and size of the defect.
Will it hurt?
The procedure itself is totally painless.
Afterwards, when the anaesthetic wears off, there will be some discomfort which can be controlled with normal painkillers.
How do bone grafts heal?
There are four common sources of bone grafting material:
- Autogenous (your own bone)
- Xenograft (bone from an animal - typically cow)
- Allograft (bone from a human donor),
- Or a Synthetic material (usually derived from hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate).
They each heal in different ways but in general they provide a scaffold for your body to grow blood vessels into and over a period of months the graft begins to become solid.
After 3-6 months most grafted sites are suitable to place implants. Autogenous bone is the gold standard and creates the closest thing to the original bone.
Am I put to sleep for a dental bone graft?
Can I get a bone graft treatment near me?
Yes! We provide bone grafts in each of our three clinics - Dublin, Limerick and Galway.
Book your free consultation today! We look forward to welcoming you in person soon :)
In what situations might there not be enough bone for bone grafting?
There might not be enough bone for bone grafting if someone:
- Has been missing teeth for many years
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- They have been wearing dentures for many years
Without teeth, part of the jawbone called the alveolar bone starts to atrophy and can recede.
In what situations might there be a need for bone removal? What does the process look like, and what are the benefits?
Bone removal is typical for all on four and implant retained dentures in order to prepare the bone surface for implants.
Bone removal is done with a surgical, dental bur.
There are several benefits to the strategic removal of bone:
- More Accurate Implant Placement: Our skilled professionals can more precisely plan and position implants.
- Improved Implant Integration: Removing damaged or compromised bone creates a healthier environment for implant integration
- Reduced Risk of Infection: Removing infected or necrotic bone reduces the risk of bacterial infection
- Healthier Foundation: Removing diseased bone ensures a clean and healthy foundation for dental implant placement
- Optimized Oral Hygiene: The bone removal allows for easier and more effective effective oral hygiene maintenance
- Precise Prosthetic Fit: By creating sufficient space for the prosthetics, we can better ensure that implant-supported restorations fit accurately and comfortably.
Ready for the Next Step? Book Your Free Consultation
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