Different Types of Bone Grafting Procedures
Socket preservation is a procedure we will sometimes recommend when you are having a tooth extracted. The bones that hold your teeth require frequent use to maintain their size and shape, otherwise they start to recede as they are no longer needed.
When a tooth is extracted, it leaves behind a hole (or “socket”) in the alveolar ridge bone, making it vulnerable to shrinkage. In fact, some studies show that bone loss can be 50% in the first 12 months after extraction.
You may be wondering, “Why does bone loss matter if I don’t have a tooth there anyway?” Unfortunately, without teeth and adequate bone structure, several unwanted oral health problems may occur:
The augmentation of the alveolar ridge, or the bony ridge of the upper and lower jaws that hold the sockets and roots of teeth, is a process that can help prepare the bone for a dental implant. An alveolar ridge augmentation procedure helps to improve the shape and size of the ridge, so it can better retain dental implant hardware. In some cases where only one tooth is being replaced, it may be done in an individual socket only. Or, bone grafting and augmentation of the alveolar ridge may involve a large part of the ridge or the entire ridge itself.
Alveolar ridge augmentation can help recreate the natural shape of the ridge after the removal of one or more teeth and after bone loss or resorption has occurred. Not only does this procedure help anchor dental implants, it can help restore aesthetics, particularly in cases where the work is done in the front of the mouth.
Ridge preservation or augmentation surgery is accomplished by filling in the empty socket left by a missing tooth additional bone-graft material. The socket itself would fill in and heal on its own, but would also lose bone height/width. The surgery prevents or reverses that deterioration. The bone-graft material can be from a cadaver donor (an “allograft”), from animal sources (a “xenograft”), or synthetically manufactured (an “alloplast.”)
Gum tissue will then be placed over the grafted-in bone and sutured into place. A “barrier membrane” may also be used to create a space into which the grafted bone mass will grow, ensuring it re-attains its former height or width. Barrier membranes are for vertical growth, but some are horizontally placed. If horizontal, it is commonly on the buccal side (facing the cheeks) since that bone must be at least 2 mm thick before an implant can be received.
The healing process may take several months or even up to a year. The time required varies from person to person, and certain factors like smoking or having diabetes can slow down the rate at which bone heals and regenerates.
When a tooth is extracted or lost due to gum disease or another cause, your alveolar ridge will begin to deteriorate. Correcting that problem with ridge augmentation/preservation will allow for dental implants and improve the aesthetics of you smile. To learn more about ridge preservation or augmentation, contact Cosmo Dental for an initial consultation.
The maxillary sinuses are behind your cheeks and on top of the upper teeth. These sinuses are empty, air-filled spaces. Some of the roots of the natural upper teeth extend up into the maxillary sinuses. When these upper teeth are removed there is often just a thin wall of bone separating the maxillary sinus and the mouth. Dental implants need bone to hold them in place. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to place dental implants in this bone.
The key to a successful and long-lasting dental implant is the quality and quantity of jaw bone to which the implant will be attached. If bone loss has occurred due to injury or periodontal disease, a sinus augmentation can raise the sinus floor and allow for new bone formation. A sinus lift is one of the most common bone grafting procedures for patients with bone loss in the upper jaw. The procedure seeks to grow bone in the floor of the maxillary sinus above the bony ridge of the gum line that anchors the teeth in the upper jaw. This enables dental implants to be placed and secured in the new bone growth.
A sinus lift may be necessary if you:
Most commonly, a small incision is made on the premolar or molar region to expose the jaw bone. A small opening is cut into the bone, and the membrane lining the sinus is pushed upward. The underlying space is filled with bone grafting material, either from your own body or from a other sources. Sometimes, synthetic materials that imitate bone formation are used. After the bone is implanted, the incision is sutured and the healing process begins. After several months of healing, the bone becomes part of the patient’s jaw and dental implants can be inserted and stabilized in the newly formed sinus bone.
If enough bone between the upper jaw ridge and the bottom of the sinus is available to sufficiently stabilize the implant, sinus augmentations and implant placement can sometimes be performed as a single procedure. If not enough bone is available, the sinus augmentation will have to be performed first, then the graft will have to mature for up to several months, depending upon the type of graft material used. Once the graft has matured, the implants can be placed.
The sinus graft makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants that previously had no other option besides wearing loose dentures.
A sinus augmentation is generally performed at Cosmo Dental Office , under local anesthesia. Some patients may request oral or intravenous sedative medication as well.
In current times, one of the most promising innovations in the field of surgical dentistry is the use of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF). Used alone or as an additive with other biomaterials, it accelerates the healing mechanism of the tissue and reduces the inflammation.
Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has been used in regenerative medicine and dentistry. The usage of PRF has reported significant advantages because it enhances osteoprogenitor cells in the host bone and bone graft. The PRF protocol in oral and maxillofacial surgery was introduced to improve bone healing in implant dentistry and its application in various disciplines of dentistry.
A French surgeon named Dr. Joseph Choukroun first realized when he performed facial surgeries that PRF accelerates healing. This technique is now recognized as an effective treatment to promote healing during dental surgery and tooth extraction. Choukroun’s PRF centrifuge system permits us to extract blood, separate platelets and growth factors, and add the powerhouse grouping back into your body.
Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) substance is a by-product of blood (plasma) that is rich in platelets. PRF, in short, is simply a byproduct of blood. It is exceptionally high in platelets and growth factors —the “signaling” molecules that allow communication between cells.
PRF is a tool that significantly improves bone and soft tissue regeneration. Recently, its use has been advocated for regenerative periodontics and wound healing.
Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has been known to have several properties that aid in healing and regeneration.
At COSMO DENTAL, led by Dr. Segui and her skilled team, we provide expert dental care in a warm and welcoming environment.
With clinics in Quezon City and Makati, we offer a full range of services—from routine check-ups and preventive care to advanced cosmetic and restorative treatments.
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