Bone Grafting
What is bone grafting?
Bone grafting is the procedure of adding bone (donor) to the patient's existing bone (recipient)
Why is it needed?
Bone grafting is needed when there is a defect in the bone which occurs after long term tooth loss or traumatic tooth loss. We usually perform bone grafts to prepare the jaw bone to accept dental implants or to enhance the support around failing teeth. Bone grafts may be performed after the extraction of infected teeth in order to preserve the site for future implant placement. There are also times that bone is grafted to offer improved support for dentures.
What does the procedure involve?
This is a minor surgical procedure - the recipient site would be anesthetized, the gum gently opened up and the bone graft material would be placed underneath the gum.
Where is the graft material from?
How much time will the whole process take?
When will I be able to resume daily activities?
Will I be in pain?
How effective is the treatment in the long run?
Where is the graft material from?
The graft material can be harvested from various areas:
- From the mouth, typically at the back of the mouth
- From the hip; or
- From processed sterile bone material produced by laboratories
How much time will the whole process take?
The majority of bone graft procedures are performed within minutes. Occasionally, the procedure may take close to an hour. In general, the length of the procedure is approximately proportional to the size of the grafting area.
When will I be able to resume daily activities?
Most of our patients can resume 99% of their daily activities on the same day. In general, we advise patients to take it easy on the procedure day. At the end of the procedure day, we expect our patients to be able to talk on the phone, meet their family or friends and eat a reasonable dinner.
Will I be in pain?
There is generally no pain during the procedure. Very rarely do we need to perform the procedure under general anesthesia.
In the situation where a patient may be worried about the procedure, s/he may choose to have the procedure under sedation, which will relax the patient during the procedure and best of all, the person would not remember the procedure afterward.
Taking the medication prescribed by the dentist is key to reducing post-treatment discomfort and to ensure uneventful speedy healing.
How effective is the treatment in the long run?
Bone grafting is very predictable over a long period of time in the hands of experienced dental surgeons. Repeating the procedure is very rare.