Unfortunately, when teeth are missing for a prolonged time, the bone that surrounds and supports the teeth (the alveolar ridge/jaw bone) can weaken and atrophy because the roots of your natural teeth are no longer continuously stimulating it to keep it healthy and strong. You need a strong jaw bone for the placement of stable dental implants, so for our patients with bone loss, we use bone grafting techniques to build healthy bone mass in the areas where dental implants will be placed. The great news is that once your new implant or implants are placed, they will act as tooth roots in your jaw, helping to maintain the integrity of the bone, therefore ending the cycle of your bone loss.

If you are having dental implants placed and have bone loss in your jaw, you may be a candidate for bone grafting in the implant area to help ensure a durable implant placement. Dr. Jesin performs a full scope of oral surgery procedures, including the bone grafting procedures that are proven to open the way for more of our patients to receive stable dental implants. They also use bone grafting in the treatment of other oral and maxillofacial conditions such as in the repair of injuries from facial trauma.

Types of Bone Grafting

Since bone grafts are so effective at helping to build bone mass and strength in areas of the jaw where implants are to be placed, bone grafting is often a first step in the dental implant process. These types of bone grafts usually consist of a solution of granulated bone material (or other healing agents) that is applied to the areas with insufficient bone. The bone material we use is sourced from another part of your body or a tissue bank. At Advanced Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Studio, we perform several types of bone grafting treatments to meet our patient’s needs, including

  • Ridge Augmentation. If your alveolar ridge (the bone that surrounds your teeth) is not dense enough to support dental implants effectively, your oral surgeon may tell you that you will need a ridge augmentation if you would like to have dental implants placed. During the procedure, bone graft material is inserted into the area of your implant to stimulate bone growth.
  • Sinus Lift. The sinus is very close to the upper arch of teeth, and if the wall that separates the sinus from the oral cavity is too thin to support a good dental implant placement, your oral surgeon may recommend a sinus lift procedure. For this procedure, a bone graft is placed in the jaw below the sinus membrane to supplement the area.
  • Socket preservation. Sometimes, bone loss occurs after tooth loss or an extraction. When this is the case, a bone grafting procedure can reinforce the bone in the empty tooth socket to prepare the socket for an eventual dental implant. Your oral surgeon may fill your tooth socket with bone grafting material immediately after an extraction to prepare the site.

Soft Tissue Grafts

Like bone grafts, soft tissue grafts can play an important role in successful dental implant placement. When the quality or quantity of gum tissue is lacking around the area where a dental implant is to be inserted, a graft can be placed to increase the healthy tissue surrounding the implant. The grafted healthy tissue promotes optimal healing around a dental implant and helps ensure an optimal long-term result. The tissue used for soft tissue grafts is usually harvested from another part of your oral cavity, often the roof of the mouth or we may obtain it from a tissue bank.

As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Jesin is highly trained and experienced in a wide range of soft tissue and bone grafting techniques. During your consultation, they will assess the health of your gum tissue and your jaw bone to discover if a tissue or bone graft will benefit you.

Bone & Soft Tissue Grafting in Grand Rapids, MI

Bone grafting can make dental implants an option for patients who are experiencing bone loss or a deficiency of bone. Likewise, soft tissue grafts can help enhance the quality of your gum tissue to support a healthy dental implant placement. These procedures can vastly improve the long-term stability of dental implants. If you have questions about the grafting procedures we perform at our practice, or you are ready to schedule your consultation, please give the team at Advanced Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Studio a call. We look forward to speaking with you!