Restore your beautiful smile with dental implants. If you’re missing teeth or have undergone severe dental trauma, dental implants can help you get your smile back. We often talk with patients that are interested in implants, but a bit apprehensive about the process, especially the potential for a needed bone graft. Here’s what you need to know about dental implants and bone grafting. Contact our offices and schedule a consultation to get personalized advice.

Do All Dental Implant Patients Need a Bone Graft?

Some patients will need a bone graft before dental implants and some will not. When teeth are missing or removed, the supporting bone begins to atrophy (or shrink). Dental implants are secured into the supporting bone. For the implant to hold up to the forces that teeth face, like biting and chewing, we need to use a sufficiently sized titanium screw. If the bone has atrophied too much, we won’t be able to place an implant that will hold up over time. Additionally, the bone provides the support for gum tissue. If the bone has atrophied, your gum line contours will not look natural.

In patients with significant bone atrophy, we can restore the supporting bone using bone grafting. During your consultation, we can help you determine if bone grafting is needed for successful dental implants. The longer your tooth has been missing, the more likely you are to need bone grafting.

Bone grafting may sound intimidating, but we find the results far outweigh the inconvenience. Bone grafting helps us to truly restore your smile and to create a natural look using dental implants.

Where Do You Get the Bone for a Bone Graft?

We obtain the needed bone for bone grafting from either a donor source or by harvesting your own bone.

• Donor Bone– Donor bone, either from a bovine (cow) or human donor source, can be used for many patients. This bone is obtained from a tissue bank and is sterilized and specially processed before it is used. The advantage of using donor bone is that we don’t need to create a second surgical site on your body. This can make recovery easier.
• Your Own Bone- For patients needing extensive reconstruction, harvested bone from your own body generally works best. This bone can be obtained with minimal risk and without cosmetic deformity.

Many patients feel intimidated by the possibility of bone grafting, but don’t let that stop you from achieving a beautiful smile. We regularly perform bone grafting with excellent results. If you have concerns, come see us. We can help you better understand the process and answer any questions you may have. Call us today and schedule your consultation.