Bone deterioration, also known as bone resorption, is a common and natural occurrence in the jaw bone if a tooth or multiple teeth have been lost and not properly replaced or treated over an extended length of time. When bone resorption occurs, it can cause problems when the patient visits our office to explore their options for replacement, particularly when they are interested in dental implant placement. If this is the case, the dental implant will not have enough bone to be securely attached to the jaw, making it unsuitable to support the crown. This also increases the risk that the patient may experience long-term complications and ultimately need to have the implant removed. At Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery, we want to give every patient the opportunity to restore their smile, which is why we offer bone grafting procedures to supplement and rebuild the deteriorated bone.
Dr. Alex Balaci is an expert in all areas of the oral and facial skeleton, including the jaw and sinus bone area. There are many different bone grafting procedures that may be performed, and the treatment you receive will depend on the location and surface area of the needed bone graft in your mouth. The material used to place the bone graft may be your own bone taken from the back of the mouth around the third molar in the upper or lower jaw, the chin, the hip, or the tibia. Utilizing your own bone is the best option; however, if it is not a possibility, you may receive a mineral bone substitute or obtain bone from a tissue bank. Our surgical team will examine each unique case to determine which option will optimize the long-term health of the mouth.
What are my options for bone grafting?
Sinus Lift Procedure
The maxillary sinuses reside behind your cheeks and on top of your upper teeth and always remain empty. It is extremely common for the bone that separates your mouth from these sinuses to be too thin to support a dental implant if you need a tooth replacement. Fortunately, the surgical team at Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery utilizes a bone grafting procedure to solve this problem, called a sinus lift. During this procedure, Dr. Balaci enters into the sinus cavity and lifts the sinus membrane that lays on top of the bone. Next, he will place a bone graft beneath the membrane that will integrate with the jaw bone over several months following the procedure. Once the bone graft has been fully integrated with the jaw bone, a follow-up visit can be made to have a dental implant inserted.
Socket Preservation
If a permanent adult tooth is lost or must be extracted, it is important to preserve the empty tooth socket to prevent bone deterioration. During the socket preservation procedure, patients receive a small bone graft to fill the socket, which will slowly integrate with the natural bone for several weeks after placement. This procedure is simple, safe, and effective, affording you a quick recovery time and continual benefits, such as maintaining the height and width of the bone should you choose to replace the tooth in the future with a solution such as dental implant placement.
Nerve Repositioning
The inferior alveolar nerve is a nerve that runs along the lower jaw bone and provides sensation to the lower lip and chin. During dental implant placement, the surgeon may need to reposition this nerve to place the implant into the jaw properly. This technique is usually only used when replacing a tooth in the area of the back two molars or second premolar. If nerve repositioning is required, a small section of the lower jaw bone is removed to isolate and slightly move the nerve to allow for proper implant placement. Once complete, the nerve is placed back in its original position, and a bone graft is used to fill the area of the jaw that was removed. This procedure is somewhat invasive, and our staff will consider all options for proper dental implant placement and optimal recovery when working with this important nerve.
Ridge Expansion
The alveolar ridge is the bone that surrounds and supports the teeth. Over time, it is not uncommon for this bone to naturally deteriorate or become less dense. In this circumstance, the ridge can be treated with a bone graft procedure called ridge expansion which will strengthen and support the deteriorating bone. During ridge expansion, Dr. Balaci carefully splits the bony ridge of the jaw and inserts bone graft material into the new space. This procedure is designed to widen or heighten the jaw to increase bone density and create a solid base for dental implants.
Where can I get bone grafting for dental implants near Lebanon?
Dr. Alex Balaci and the highly skilled team at Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery in Lebanon, PA, serve a wide region and provide the full scope of oral and maxillofacial procedures to correct functional and aesthetic problems, including a variety bone grafting procedures to make dental implant placement possible.