Tissue grafting procedures are often used in medicine to repair areas that have been seriously damaged by disease or injury. You’re probably familiar with the concept of skin grafts used in cases of severe burns. As oral surgeons, we can use the same techniques and concepts to address serious oral health concerns, such as bone loss, common in cases of missing teeth, trauma and tumor surgery.
If you’ve been missing teeth for a while, you may have noticed your jawline slightly changing and your remaining teeth shifting. This is caused by bone loss in the jawbone.
When you lose teeth, the bone in that area begins to atrophy, weakening and becoming thinner. In time, other teeth are affected and the thinning area of bone spreads.
This bone loss is problematic, particularly when it comes to replacing those missing teeth. When the bone loss happens, bridges and dentures stop fitting correctly requiring them to be replaced on a fairly regular basis.
We like dental implants as a permanent solution for missing teeth, but they can’t be placed in areas without sufficient bone. Since implants can put an end to the bone loss process, oral surgeons have found methods to replace this missing bone so that implants are once again an option.
Bone grafts can use human bone harvested from elsewhere in your body, donor bone, synthetic bone created in a lab, horse or cow bone or from a protein called BMP that makes the body form bone where directed. Each has its own advantages and drawbacks and Dr. Bryan McLelland will discuss these issues with you to find the type of bone that’s best for your specific needs.
Depending on your situation, the grafting procedure may be performed either before the implant surgery and allowed to heal or during the implant surgery. The donor bone will encourage regrowth of your own bone tissue until the area is built back up.
In addition to bone grafting, Dr. McLelland can also perform soft tissue grafting, a procedure that replaces missing gum tissue.
In the early stages of periodontal disease, pockets begin to form around your teeth. These pockets collect bacteria and bits of debris, allowing the disease to continue to progress.
As the disease progresses, the gum tissue continues to recede from the teeth. This causes additional problems, exposing the sensitive teeth roots to the acids excreted by bacteria and opening the way for decay and other damage.
Unfortunately, once gums have receded, surgery is the only way to repair the damage. Gum grafting, using tissue collected from your own body or a special type of tissue matrix, allows us to improve the condition, protecting the roots of your teeth and preventing tooth loss.
Are bone and other tissue grafting procedures right for you? The best way to find out is to call Liberty Oral Surgery and schedule a consult and evaluation.
Dental technology and techniques have advanced considerably in the last few years, and bone and gum grafting techniques allow for opportunities that simply weren’t possible before. Find out today if grafting can improve your oral health.