Bone Grafting
It is common to suffer from bone loss in the jaw when you have lost teeth or had some extractions. Teeth need to be in place to encourage a healthy jawbone. When teeth are missing, the bones surrounding that tooth begin to erode.
If this deterioration is allowed to continue, the jawbone may not have sufficient support for future dental implants if desired. Bone grafting may be the recommended treatment by your dentist to prevent the jawbone from weakening to this point.
What is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is a procedure where the lost bone is reinforced by adding bone transplants to rebuild the deteriorated sockets in the jawbone. Your dentist may recommend one of the following types of bone grafts:
- Autogenous
- Allograft
- Xenograft
An autogenous bone graft involves the removal of your bone from an unneeded area for transplanting in the socket. Most typically, the bone graft is taken from the chin. An autogenous bone graft has the advantage of coming from your own body, thus making the risk of rejection or infection far less likely to occur. This type of bone deals with living bone material, increasing the potential success rate of the procedure.
Allografts make use of human bone for their transplant material as well. The main difference between the two grafts is that allografts are not taken from your bone. Instead, the bone used for this procedure is taken from a donor cadaver. The bone matter is subjected to a rigorous screening process to ensure it is entirely safe for use as a bone graft.
The xenograft bone graft does not use human bone for the transplant matter. The most common source for xenograft bone is the cow.
Are There Any Advantages to Having an Allograft or Xenograft Instead of an Autogenous Bone Graft?
The advantage to an allograft or xenograft is that you only need to subject your body to one surgery instead of one to remove the transplant matter and a second to apply it.
Will a Bone Graft Hurt?
Your bone graft procedure will take place under local anesthesia, and thus, will not hurt. However, you may experience some discomfort during the surgery and some pain during recovery.
What Can I Expect During My Recovery?
Your dentist will provide you with antibiotics and medication to manage the pain. For some time following your surgery, you will need to stick to a diet of soft foods. Most often, your mouth will completely heal between six to nine months post-surgery.
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