Bone Grafting & Sinus Lifts
What is a Bone Graft?
A bone graft is a minor surgical procedure during which your dentist adds bone tissue to your jaw bone to strengthen it. It is usually done to repair bone loss, or to prepare for another dental procedure, like the placement of a dental implant.
Bone grafts typically heal quickly, and any discomfort usually fades not long after the procedure is complete.
Once the jawbone heals from the bone graft, the implant process moves forward.
Reasons for a Bone Graft
A bone graft may be necessary if you require a dental implant, but your jaw bone is too thin or too soft to support it. After the bone graft procedure, there will be a waiting period of a few months until you can have your dental implant surgery.
A bone graft may also be used to treat patients with severe gum disease that has resulted in bone loss. In these cases a bone graft can regenerate the bone and prevent teeth from loosening or falling out.
Bone grafting encourages natural growth of bone tissues. As the natural bone grows, it generally replaces the graft material completely, resulting in a fully integrated region of new bone.
Sinus Lifts
If there is bone loss in the upper jaw, the sinus has to be moved up in order to make space for a bone graft. Once the sinus lift has been completed, the bone bone material is added to the upper back jaw to prepare for a dental implant.
A sinus lift helps to raise and increase the amount of bone in the sinus area so that your dentist can place the implant.