Beautiful dental restorations require a strong foundation. When placing dental implants, we need sufficient bone to support the implant through the strain of biting forces. If bone has degraded, bone grafting may be needed. Our oral surgeons are experienced in dental bone grafting using donor and patient-collected bone.

Learn about your options for bone graft material below. If you require this additional step before your dental implants, we’ll discuss options in detail before your procedure.

Why Are Bone Grafts Needed for Dental Implants?

Teeth apply pressure to the bones in the jaw each time you bite. This pressure and stimulation keep the bone healthy and strong. When a tooth is lost, the bone slowly begins to degrade. This is a very gradual process and can take months or years before the bone loss is pronounced. Bone can also be damaged during the extraction of a severely decayed tooth.

To place a dental implant, we need bone. Patients that have been without a tooth for an extended period often lack sufficient bone, both in quality and quantity. Bone grafts supply us with the quality bone needed for a successful implantation.

Bone structure is essential to facial structure. Grafting restores jawline contours for a full and healthy-looking lower face.

Do I Need a Bone Graft?

Bone grafts aren’t always needed for dental implants. The longer a tooth has been missing, the more likely a graft is needed. Patients with recent tooth loss often don’t require this procedure. We never recommend bone grafting if it isn’t necessary for functional or aesthetic results.

Where Do We Get Bone for Bone Grafting?

The bone we use for grafting comes from either a donor source or is harvested from the patient.

• Donor Bone- Using bone from a donor eliminates the need for a second surgical site. We use donor bone from human or bovine (cow) sources. This bone is processed and sterilized before implantation and is obtained from a tissue bank.
• Patient-Harvested Bone- Another source for bone is the patient. We often extract this bone from the lower jaw, either from the chin or behind the third molar area. This bone is obtained with minimal risk and without cosmetic deformity.

Which Bone Graft Type Is Best for Me?

The best bone graft material depends on many factors. We need an examination and consultation to determine your best treatment approach.

• Tissue bank bone, either bovine or human, simplifies the grafting process. We can immediately start the graft, without having to harvest the tissue first. It speeds recovery since only one surgical site is created.
• Patient-harvested bone is used most often in implant sites that require significant reconstruction.

We have an in-house 3D CT machine. This allows us to create detailed imaging of your existing bone anatomy. This information is used to determine if bone grafting is needed, and which graft materials are most appropriate.

Call Hill Country Oral Surgery to learn more about your options for dental implants and bone grafting in Austin, TX. Our phone number is 512-327-7233.