About Bone Grafting
What is Bone Grafting?
Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies and is reabsorbed by the body. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In these situations, most patients are not candidates for placement of dental implants.
With bone grafting, we now have the opportunity to not only replace bone where it is missing, but also the ability to promote new bone growth in that location! 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.
Types of Bone Grafts
Autogenous Bone Grafts:
Autogenous bone grafts, also known as autografts, are made from your own bone, taken from somewhere else in the body. The bone is typically harvested from the chin, the back of the lower jaw, lower leg, hip, or other areas of the skull. Autogenous bone grafts are advantageous in that the graft material is live bone, meaning it contains living cellular elements that enhance bone growth.
However, one downside to the autograft is that it requires a second surgical site to harvest bone from elsewhere in the body. Depending on your condition, a second surgical site may not be ideal.
Allogenic Bone:
Allogenic bone, or allograft, is bone harvested from a donor, then processed using a freeze-dry method to extract the water and living components of bone via a vacuum. Unlike autogenous bone, allogenic bone cannot produce new bone on its own. Rather, it serves as a framework or scaffold over which bone from the surrounding bony walls can grow to fill the defect or void. This bone is clean and contains minerals and the building blocks of natural bone that are extracted from the allograft bone.
Xenogenic Bone:
Xenogenic bone is derived from non-living bone of another species, usually a cow. The bone is processed at very high temperatures to avoid the potential for immune rejection and contamination. Like allogenic grafts, xenogenic grafts serve as a framework for bone from the surrounding area to grow and fill the void. This bone is clean and contains minerals and the building blocks of natural bone that are extracted from the xenograft bone.
Both allogenic and xenogenic bone grafting are advantageous in that they do not require a second surgical site or procedure to harvest your own bone, as with autografts. However, because these options lack autograft’s bone-forming properties, bone regeneration may take longer than with autografts, with a less predictable outcome.
Bone Graft Substitutes
As a substitute to using a patient’s own bone, many alternative materials are available as a safe and proven alternate, including:
Alloplastic Grafts:
These are synthetic materials that are typically rich in minerals required for bone formation. They are typically derived from natural sources such as coral and they have the advantage of not requiring a second surgical site to harvest bone, reducing risk and pain.
Each bone grafting option has its own risks and benefits. Dr. Usman will determine which type of bone graft material is right for you.