What is Bone Grafting?

Over time, the jawbone around a missing tooth is reabsorbed. This results in poor quality and quantity of bone for dental implant placement. When this happens, the patient may not be a good candidate for a dental implant procedure. 

However, with bone grafting in Cornelius, NC, we can now replace the missing bone and promote new bone growth in that location! Patients who previously were not candidates for dental implants can now have implants placed with proper spacing to restore the function and appearance of the smile.

Major & Minor Bone Grafting

Today, major and minor dental bone grafting in Charlotte, NC can be done to create and grow new bone in an area where it is lacking. This allows us to perform dental implant procedures that previously could not be done.

Major Bone Grafting

Bone grafting repairs implant sites that have poor bone structure due to teeth extractions, gum disease, or traumatic injuries. Bone for a grafting procedure may be obtained from a tissue bank or may be taken from the patient’s own jaw, hip, or tibia (below the knee). To replace bone in the posterior upper jaw, a sinus bone graft may be necessary

Additionally, guided bone regeneration or guided tissue regeneration may be done. This involves using special membranes that dissolve under the gums. These membranes protect the graft site and encourage bone regeneration. 

Major bone grafts are done to repair jaw defects from injuries, tumor surgery, or congenital defects. Large defects are repaired using the patient’s own bone which is commonly harvested from the skull, hip, or tibia.

These procedures of dental bone grafting in Charlotte, Cornelius and other surrounding areas in NC are routinely performed in an operating room and require a hospital stay.

• Ridge Augmentation
• Sinus Lift
• Nerve Repositioning
• Socket Preservation

What is a Ridge Augmentation?

A ridge augmentation is commonly performed following a tooth extraction. This helps recreate the contours of the gums and jaw if bone was lost as a result of the extraction.

The alveolar ridge of the jaw is the bone around the roots of teeth. When a tooth is removed, it leaves an empty socket in the alveolar ridge bone. Usually the socket heals and fills with bone and tissue on its own. However, sometimes when the tooth is extracted, the bone around the socket breaks and cannot heal on its own. The socket and bone will continue to deteriorate.

Although it may not be considered medically necessary to rebuild the original height and width of the alveolar ridge, it may be required to place a dental implant or to create a more pleasing aesthetic. Dental implants require adequate bone structure. A ridge augmentation rebuilds the bone to support the implant.

How is the Oral Surgery Accomplished?

During a ridge augmentation, bone graft material is placed in the empty tooth socket immediately after the tooth is removed so an additional procedure is not needed. Gum tissue is then stitched into place over the socket. Dr. Rolle may choose to use a space-maintaining product over the graft to help restore the height and width of the treatment site if bone loss occurred. This encourages new bone growth. Once the socket has healed, the bone can be prepared for the dental implant procedure.

A ridge augmentation is usually performed in Dr. Rolle’s office under local anesthesia, although some patients may also request sedative medication as well.

What is a Sinus Lift?

The maxillary sinuses are empty, air-filled spaces located above the top teeth behind your cheek. The roots of your upper teeth may extend into the maxillary sinuses. However, when a tooth is lost or removed, there is only a thin wall of bone between the sinus and the mouth. Dental implants need adequate bone structure for support. If the sinus wall is too thin, the dental implants cannot be placed.

A successful, long-lasting dental implant requires adequate healthy bone to attach the implant. If bone loss has occurred, a sinus augmentation raises the sinus floor and allows for new bone development. 

A sinus lift is a common bone grafting procedure to replace bone loss in the upper jaw. The procedure helps regrow bone in the maxillary sinus above the bony ridge of the gum line where teeth in the upper jaw are anchored in place. This strengthens and grows bone so that dental implants can be placed.

Am I a Candidate for a Sinus Lift Procedure?

A sinus lift may be necessary in the following situations:

• The patient is missing more than one tooth in the back of the jaw.
• A large amount of bone has been lost in the back of the jaw.
• The patient is missing teeth as a result of a birth defect or condition.
• The patient is missing maxillary teeth and requires support for dental implants.

How is this Oral Surgery Accomplished?

During a sinus augmentation, a small incision along the premolar or molar region exposes the jawbone. The surgeon creates a small opening in the bone and pushes up the membrane lining the sinus. The space underneath the membrane is filled with bone grafting material, either from your own body or from a cadaver. In some cases, synthetic materials that imitate bone formation are used. 

After implanting the bone graft material, the incision is sutured. Healing takes several months to allow the bone to become part of the jaw. Then dental implants can be placed in the new bone.

If there is adequate bone between the upper jaw ridge and the bottom of the sinus to support the implant, the sinus augmentations and implant placement may be performed at the same time. If the bone is inadequate, the sinus augmentation is performed first. The graft will require several months to mature before implants can be placed.

Years ago, dentures were the only option for patients with inadequate bone structure in the sinus area. The sinus graft makes dental implant placement possible.

Dr. Rolle generally performs a sinus augmentation in the office under local anesthesia. However, some patients may request oral or intravenous sedation as well.

Nerve Repositioning

The inferior alveolar nerve is located in the lower jaw and gives feeling to the lower lip and chin. In some cases, this nerve has to be moved before dental implant placement in the lower jaw. Nerve repositioning may be recommended when the back molars and/or second premolars are missing. 

Nerve repositioning is considered a very aggressive approach because it nearly always results in numbness of the lower lip and jaw that may not dissipate. Less aggressive options such as the placement of blade implants are usually considered first.

During this procedure, an outer section of the lower jawbone is removed to expose the nerve and vessel canal. Then, the nerve and vessel bundle are isolated and pulled slightly to the side. The implants are placed while we track the neuro-vascular bundle. The nerve and vessel bundle is placed back over the implants. The surgical access point is filled with bone graft material before the area is closed.

These procedures may be performed individually or at the same time depending upon the patient’s condition and needs. As mentioned above, bone grafts can be obtained from several areas of the body. Bone grafts from the mouth are taken from the chin, third molar region, or the upper jaw behind the last tooth. For a greater quantity of bone, grafting material can be obtained from the hip or tibia. Using the patient’s own bone produces the best results..

In many cases, we can use allograft material to perform bone grafts for dental implants. This material is prepped from cadavers and used to grow the patient’s own bone at the repair site. It is effective and safe. Synthetic materials may also stimulate bone formation. In these cases, we use growth factors from the patient’s blood to promote bone growth.

These oral surgeries are performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia. After discharge, recovery involves bed rest for one day and limited physical activity for one week.

Preserving Your Jaw Bone after Extraction

Sometimes a tooth extraction is necessary due to pain, infection, bone loss or fracture of the tooth. After the extraction, the bone or socket can become damaged by disease or infection. This causes a deformity in the jaw. In addition, the bone deteriorates and the gums can recede leading to defects and the collapse of the lips and cheeks.

Jaw defects and bone loss create problems for restorative dental procedures such as dental implants, bridges, and dentures. Problems with jaw deformities from extractions can be prevented and repaired with socket preservation. A socket preservation procedure improves your smile and the likelihood of successful dental implant placement.

Several techniques help preserve the bone and minimize bone loss following a tooth extraction. One technique involves extracting the tooth then filling the socket with bone or a bone substitute material. The socket is covered with gum tissue, artificial membranes, and proteins to stimulate the tissue and promote natural repair of the socket. The socket heals and maintains the health of the gums and facial tissues. New bone forms the foundation of a dental implant. 

If a tooth extraction is recommended, ask about socket preservation, especially if you plan to replace the front teeth.

Call 704-892-9500 or Book Online to schedule an appointment