Bone Graft The Dental Procedure

Recently a post was made regarding Dental Bone Graft. In the post, we explain the types of bone grafts available and the steps involved with this oral procedure. However, we notice that some of our patients and visitors had additional questions, questions like:

• Why Bone Graft is performed?
• How to prepare for this Dental Surgery
• What are the risks involved?

Bone Loss and Bone Graft

Bone Loss can affect us because of several reasons; causes include family history, not developing good bone mass when you are young, and certain conditions or medicines.

In addition, as one grows older many changes occur in our body, among them there can several age-related changes in bone mass/structure that we cannot control and can lead to osteoporosis. Changes that affect include:

• Any treatment or condition that causes calcium or vitamin D to be poorly absorbed
  • Gastric bypass (weight-loss surgery)
  • Cystic fibrosis
• Chronic kidney disease
• Overactive parathyroid gland
• Some medicines that are used to treat seizures or epilepsy
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Bone graft is a surgical procedure used by doctors, to correct problems associated with bones or joints. Doctors will use this procedure to repair bones after trauma, problem joints, or growing bone around implanted devices; for example dental implants or knee replacements (TKR).

Why Dental Bone Graft is performed?

In the dentistry field, a dentist might need to perform this surgery for several reasons, but the most common is the placement of a dental implant in a space that has suffered bone loss.

When a patient's jawbone isn't thick enough or is too soft, the dentist might suggest this oral procedure before placing a dental implant.

Every time we chew or bite into something, great levels of pressure are exerted onto our bones and if the jawbone is weak, soft, or not thick enough, the implant placement will surgically fail.

In order to replace lost, weak, soft, or not thick enough bone, the dentist might suggest a Bone Grafting Procedure. This surgical procedure will create a more solid base for the implant. However, the recovery from surgery can take several months from start to finish (between 4 – 9 months).

The steps involved with Bone Grafting Surgery include:

• An initial step when performing an oral bone graft can involve the extraction of a damaged tooth
• Once the tooth has been removed the area is treated and cleaned. Anesthesia will then be applied.
• Once Anesthesia has numb the area, your surgeon will make a small incision in the skin surrounding the area, where the graft will be performed.
• After the incision has been made, your dentist will shape the donated bone to fit the area; the cleaned socket is filled with bone graft material.
• Once bone graft material has filled the socket, the dentist might place a membrane or collagen tape to contain the graft material
• The membrane is placed around the operated area and serves to enhance the formation of new bone and to prevent the risk of infection in the grafted area (not required in all cases).
• Once the bone graft is securely placed; your dental surgeon will close the wounded area, through stitches.

How to Prepare for this Dental Surgery

During the diagnosis make sure that you tell your dentist about any medical conditions and any medications you are currently taking, this includes prescription and over-the-counter drugs and supplements.

As we mention the bone graft procedure might be required when placing a dental implant.

To better prepare you for this oral surgery, the dentist will perform a few dental exams (dental x-ray or CT scans). These exams will indicate to the dentist the length, width, and deep of your jawbone and teeth. With this information, your dentists will discuss with you the best treatment plan.

The dentist will explain to you the current condition of your jawbone, your teeth, and other details.

Afterward, he will explain to you the restoration plan that has been made for you, he will make specialize indications that are fit to your oral problem.

What are the Risks?

Like any surgery, the bone graft procedure and implant place surgery possess some risks to our health. The risks include:

• Infection at the implant site
• Injury or damage to surrounding structures (blood vessels and/or other teeth)
• Nerve damage
• Sinus Problems (when implants are placed in the upper jaw near the sinus cavities)

The dental office care team or Sani Dental Group patient’s coordinators can provide you more instructions.

Here at Los Algodones, our team of professional dentists will offer you instructions regarding the eating and drinking habits you should have and the post-surgery steps you need to do in order to quickly recover.

Post-Surgery Treatments

There are several steps you must take in order to prevent pain and speed up your recovery. Below are a few post-surgery steps Sani Dental Group recommends you to take after the bone graft procedure is performed:

Control the bleeding: Keep biting the gauze with moderate pressure for at least 30 to 45 minutes, then throw it away and do not put anything in the wound.

For swelling or inflammation: Protect your skin with petroleum jelly or cream and place an ice pack on the skin in the region of the extraction, in 10 minutes intervals for the first 8 hours.

Do not spit: This is extremely important because the action of spitting removes the clot that is stopping the bleeding.

No smoking: Smoking reduces the flow of oxygen into the tissue making the healing process longer and more painful.

Eating: Avoid greasy food cold and hot liquids, don’t drink with a straw, and avoid dairy products for 4-5 days because they help the bacteria to grow.

Mouthwashes: 24 hours after surgery do warm salt water, rinses multiple times a day.

Tooth brushing: Brush after every meal with care trying not to hurt the surgical area and carefully do the action of spitting for 24 hours, but only put water in his mouth and open it so that the water comes out.

If you have questions regarding this or any other dental procedure that our dental clinic does, we invite you to contact us and speak with one of our Patient Coordinators, or you can visit our blog site.

Our blog site is constantly updating and our goal is to offer you the necessary resources that will help you keep your smile healthy and cute for a lifetime.

The steps and procedures mentioned in this post are procedures available in the medical field; however, not all these treatments and procedures are performed at Sani Dental Group. To confirm if this procedure is performed at our dental clinics, please contact us directly.