“Bone grafting can repair implant sites that have inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease, or trauma. The bone
is most often obtained from a tissue bank or from processed and sterilized cow bone. In our office it is frequently combined with the patient’s own platelet-rich plasma (PRP), prepared by drawing a small amount of the patient’s own blood immediately pre-operatively. This PRP is filled with highly concentrated growth factors that have been shown to accelerate healing and produce a better volume and quality of bone.
Special paper-thin membranes may also be placed over the graft and under the gum. These are made of collagen, the framework of the tissue
in our bodies. These protect the graft and encourage better bone healing. They dissolve in place over a few months and do not require removal. This is called “guided bone” or “guided tissue regeneration”. This type of grafting is performed in one of our office surgical suites.
Major bone grafts are typically performed to repair larger defects of the jaws. These defects usually arise as a result of traumatic injuries, tumor surgery, or congenital defects. These are frequently repaired using the patient’s own bone that can be harvested from various sites depending on the size of the defect. The hip is a common donor site, for example. These procedures are sometimes performed in an operating room and may require a hospital stay, but they are often performed in an office surgical suite on an outpatient basis.
In many situations, the amount or quality of gingiva that will support dental implant restorations is inadequate. In these instances, grafting can
be performed to improve the gingival tissue. Soft tissue to be grafted can be obtained from a tissue bank or from the roof of the patient’s own
mouth. In either case, the procedure is generally not very uncomfortable, and patients can often resume non-strenuous activities the following day. PRP can also be used in select instances to enhance healing. Paying attention to the bony and soft issue architecture of a proposed implant site helps to optimize the appearance and function of the implant tooth.
