When you lose a tooth, bone loss will usually occur at the site of your missing tooth. Over time, this can result in significant changes in bone volume. Bone grafts may be necessary to augment the bone in order to preserve the facial structure or to ensure the successful integration of dental implants. If you are considering dental implants and have experienced bone loss, schedule a consultation with
Laurel Laser Dentistry for a dental bone graft in Laurel, MD. There are three types of bone grafts, differentiated by the source of the donor tissue:
- Autogenous: Donor tissue is collected from the patient’s own body.
- Allograft: Grafting material is obtained from a bone bank.
- Xenograft: Donor material is harvested from a bovine source.
The Placement of an Autogenous Bone Graft in Laurel, MD
Bone grafts are performed with local anesthetic, numbing the area at both the collection site and the treatment site. We will make an incision at the treatment site to determine the amount of bone needed for augmentation before making an incision at the collection site. Donor tissue is usually harvested from the chin and accessed from inside the mouth, under the front teeth, to avoid visible scarring. We will remove the necessary bone tissue and some marrow and then close the incision.
The donor tissue will be inserted at the treatment site and held in place with screws made of titanium, a biocompatible material, while it fuses with the existing bone tissue. A mixture containing bone marrow may also be placed at the site to facilitate the healing process, and the incision will be sutured closed. Your bone graft will take several months to properly integrate and if performed in preparation for dental implants, your dental implant surgery will not be scheduled until healing is complete.
Allograft and xenograft procedures are similar in method to autogenous grafts, but do not require the second surgical site for tissue collection. For more information on bone grafting procedures in Laurel, MD, contact
Laurel Laser Dentistry today.