Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is often required when dental implant placement is not possible due to insufficient bone volume or poor bone quality, which would not provide adequate stability for the titanium implant.

This condition can arise when a tooth has been missing for too long, as bone resorption occurs over time. Bone grafting may also be necessary after cyst surgery or wisdom tooth extraction, as in such cases, fibrous tissue may replace bone instead of natural regeneration.

Other causes of bone loss include diseases, dental abscesses, trauma, severe periodontal disease, and the natural aging process.

Bone grafting materials fall into four main categories:

1. Autogenous bone (derived from the patient’s own body)
2. Allogeneic bone (human donor bone)
3. Xenogeneic bone (animal-derived bone)
4. Synthetic bone grafts

Generally, the best solution is the patient’s own bone, as it integrates quickly, leading to a faster surgical process. A small piece of bone is harvested from the hip, tibia, or jaw and used to augment the deficient area, either as a solid block or in ground form, alone or combined with other grafting materials.

Human donor bone, sourced from hip replacement surgeries, undergoes a thorough cleaning and sterilization process. This results in a structure identical to the patient’s own bone, making it highly suitable for grafting.

Animal-derived bone grafts, usually from bovine or porcine sources, are extensively sterilized and mineral-enriched, allowing them to integrate seamlessly with human bone tissue.

Synthetic bone grafts are made from alloplastic materials, primarily hydroxyapatite, which is a natural component of tooth tissue, making it fully biocompatible. This material is injected into the affected area and later solidifies into a structure capable of supporting an implant.

The choice of bone grafting material, along with its advantages and disadvantages, is always determined by the specific anatomical situation, which varies from person to person. Before performing a bone grafting procedure, our oral surgeon will assess your oral condition and take a CBCT scan to recommend the most suitable solution for you.

The procedure typically lasts between 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the method and material used.

The necessary healing time depends on the type of procedure and the initial condition of the bone. Based on the selected bone grafting method, the recovery period can range from 3 to 9 months.

A collagen membrane is required during bone grafting because soft tissues (gum tissue) regenerate faster than bone, which needs protection to ensure successful integration.

You can think of it like a greenhouse—just as a greenhouse provides the ideal environment for young plants to grow even in harsh weather conditions, the membrane ensures the perfect conditions for the developing bone. In this analogy, the fragile plant represents the forming bone, while the membrane is the greenhouse protecting it. The “harsh weather” in this case refers to the constant muscle movements caused by speaking and chewing, which could displace the bone graft or allow gum tissue to grow under the membrane.

The membrane is naturally absorbed within a few months after surgery, so there is no need for an additional oral surgery procedure to remove it.

In some cases, we can perform dental implant placement and bone grafting simultaneously. However, our specialist makes this decision on a case-by-case basis, depending on the individual circumstances of the patient.

At first, it may seem intimidating, but with proper preparation and planning, bone grafting is a routine surgical procedure. The treatment is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia, ensuring a pain-free experience with minimal risk of complications.

However, the success of the procedure depends on the expertise of the oral surgeon-implantologist performing it. It is essential to have the surgery done by a highly experienced specialist who regularly performs these procedures.