About Bone Grafting

What is Bone Grafting?

Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies and is resorbed. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for the placement of dental implants. In these situations, most patients are not candidates for the placement of dental implants.

With bone grafting we now have the opportunity to not only replace bone where it is missing, but we also have the ability to promote new bone growth in that location. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and aesthetic appearance.

Types of Bone Grafts

Autogenous Bone Grafts

Autogenous bone grafts, also known as autografts, are made from your own bone, taken from somewhere else in the body. The bone is typically harvested from the chin, jaw, lower leg bone, hip, or the skull. Autogenous bone grafts are advantageous in that the graft material is your own live bone, meaning it contains living cellular elements that enhances bone growth, also eliminating the risk of your body rejecting the graft material since it comes from you.

However, one downside to the autograft is that it requires a second procedure to harvest bone from elsewhere in the body. Depending on your condition, a second procedure may not be recommended.

Allogenic Bone

Allogenic bone, or allograft, is dead bone harvested from a cadaver, then processed using a freeze-dry method to extract the water via a vacuum. Unlike autogenous bone, allogenic bone cannot produce new bone on its own. Rather, it serves as a framework, or scaffold, over which bone from the surrounding bony walls can grow to fill the defect or void.

Xenogenic Bone

Xenogenic bone is derived from non-living bone of another species, usually a cow. The bone is processed at very high temperatures to avoid the potential for immune rejection and contamination. Like allogenic grafts, xenogenic grafts serve as a framework for bone from the surrounding area to grow and fill the void.

Both allogenic and xenogenic bone grafting have an advantage of not requiring a second procedure to harvest your own bone, as with autografts. However, because these options lack autograft’s bone-forming properties, bone regeneration may take longer than with autografts and have a less predictable outcome.

Optimization of bone grafting 

Drs. Harris, Ismail and Hyneman are also experts in the latest techniques and materials which can aide in bone grafting. Our office is equipped to provide biologic materials such as PRF and BMP in order to help with success of your surgery. PRF (Platelet Rich Fibrin) is a material which is derived from your own blood which allows the surgeon to concentrate growth factors in your bone graft. BMP (Bone Morphogenic Protein, rhBMP-2) is a protein which causes cell signaling in your body to induce bone formation.

The doctors in our office are also well trained in the use of state of the art technology to increase the success of your bone graft. We are able to use patient specific customization techniques to aide in surgery. We are capable of having custom bone blocks and custom titanium fixtures fabricated specifically for your jaw in order to ensure the appropriate contours and bulk for your needs. The doctor will tailor the use of these materials to your specific needs.