ProDental, restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of your smile,Bone Grafting

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What are bone grafts & GTR (Guided Tissue Regeneration)?
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that replaces missing bone with a material called a bone graft. This material not only replaces missing bone, but also helps your body regrow lost bone. This new bone growth strengthens the grafted area by forming a bridge between your existing bone and the graft. Over time the newly formed bone will replace much of the grafted material. GTR (Guided Tissue Regeneration) is a procedure in which a membrane is placed over the bone graft site. This membrane further encourages new bone to grow and also prevents the growth of scar tissue in the grafted site.

Why are bone grafts & GTR needed?
Bone grafts & GTR are needed when a part of your body is missing bone. This missing portion of bone is frequently called a “bony defect’ Examples of jaw bone defects are:
defects surrounding roots of teeth (periodontal defects); defects which occur following tooth extraction; generalized decrease in quantity of jaw bone from trauma or long-term tooth loss; defects surrounding dental implants; defects resulting from cyst or tumor surgery.

How are bone grafting & GTR procedures performed?

The following is one example of these
procedures following tooth extraction.

Fig. 1. The tooth is removed and the remaining tooth socket is thoroughly cleaned of all inflamed and infected tissue

Fig. 2. An appropriate bone grafting material (eg. Bio-Oss®) is carefully placed into the extraction socket

Fig. 3. GBR membrane (eg. Bio-Gide®) is often placed over the grafted material.

Fig. 4. Sutures placed into the gum tissue allow proper healing of the surrounding soft tissues.

Are bone graft & GTR painful procedures?
The procedures themselves are without pain. Post-operatively, there will be some swelling and some mild to moderate discomfort especially from other procedures performed, such as tooth extraction, cyst removal, etc. We will prescribe an oral analge sic to help relieve your discomfort.

What special care is required after my grafting procedure?
Generally, the same prudent care required after any dental surgical procedure will be sufficient following jaw bone grafting & GTR. The area must be kept clean, often with the help of a prescribed mouth rinse. An antibiotic, if prescribed, must be taken. Antibiotics, however, are not always required. Undue pressure over the grafted site must be avoided until new bone is well on its way to being formed. This means that previous dental prostheses, such as a removable full or partial denture, must be altered following the grafting procedure And finally brush and floss your teeth as you normally do However avoid the gum tissues surrounding the bone graft until they are well healed (usually about six weeks).

How successful are bone grafting & GTR?
Recent advances in technology have dramatically increased the success of these procedures, leading to bone formation and resolution of the defect. However, depending upon the reason needed for these procedures, success rates will vary. Also, different graft & GTR materials seem to affect the amount of new bone formed. And finally, your own overall health will also help determine the degree to which new bone will form within the grafted site.

Are there different types of bone grafts & GTR membranes?
Yes. Some grafts are taken from different parts of the patients own body (i e from the hip bone or chin) Other grafts come from deceased human organ donors, from synthetic materials, and from highly purfied bone mineral. Likewise, there are different types of GTR membranes, Some are made from synthetic polymers and must be removed during a second surgery several weeks or months later. Others are made from natural materials and are gradually resorbed (melt away) by the body. We use Bio-Oss in our office.

What is Bio-Oss?
Bio-Oss® is a safe, effective bone graft material from specially processed bovine sources. Under the
electron microscope Bio-Oss® looks very similar to human bone. Because of its similarity to human bone, Bio-Oss® is highly successful in helping new bone to form. In many cases using Bio-Oss® eliminates the need for additional surgery to obtain your own bone as grafting material.

How does Bio-Oss® work?
Since Bio-Oss® is so similar to human bone, it is readily accepted by our defense mechanisms as a “friendly” graft and is therefore not rejected. Bio-Oss® acts a framework onto which bone forming cells, blood vessels, etc. migrate. As these cells and blood vessels travel along the Bio-Oss® framework, healthy new bone is formed and the defect is repaired.

Is Bio-Oss® safe?
Bio-Oss® is completely safe. Since it is highly purified bone, no allergic reactions or infections have been observed following its use. Every batch of Bio-Oss® goes through highly controlled processing and sterilization procedures which remove all impurities. At the end of these procedures, every batch of Bio Oss® must pass rigorous tests for purity and sterility, assuring the total safety of the materials.

How long does it take for new bone to form around the Blo-Oss® graft?
Bio-Oss is highly successful in supporting new bone growth. Although new bone will begin to form within the first few weeks after grafting, several months are required to achieve the quantity and density of bone needed for further dental or surgical procedures to be performed, but time may vary.

The final result is a beautiful and natural looking smile.

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