Bone Grafting

If you are experiencing significant tooth loss or jawbone degeneration, bone grafting may be necessary for you. When bone loss has occurred in your jaw, it could lead to more concerning health issues, such as

• Affected speech
• Altered appearance
  • Lips sinking inward, facial muscles shrinking
• Affected nutrition
• Extreme periodontal disease

For these patients that have severe cases of bone loss, bone grafting is a procedure periodontists recommend. Bone grafting is the method of promoting healthy bone growth back into your jawbone. This is done by replacing the missing bone in your jaw with bone grafting material to encourage regeneration. Over time as the bone grows, the bone will absorb the grafting material to fill in the region of where the bone was originally missing. Bone grafting is a common, quick procedure and is usually done with local anesthesia. 

There are various types of methods for bone grafting, including

• Allograft tissue
  • This method is made from synthetic bone or can from materials donated by the bone bank
• Xenograft tissue
  • This method takes grafting material from an animal source and transplanted into your body
• Autograft tissue
  • This method takes bone material from one part of your body to the spot needed

Most patients who are in the process of getting dental implants have to receive a bone graft. This is due to the substantial amount of jawbone that is needed for a successful implant to be fully anchored in.

If you are interested in beginning your process of bone grafting, you can trust the periodontists at Elkhart Periodontics to get you taken care of. To learn more about bone grafting, give us a call at (574) 266-6107.