What is bone and soft tissue grafting?
A bone or soft tissue graft uses bone and soft tissue from other parts of your body or from various other sources to replace lost or degraded areas in your jaw. It's a standard procedure, especially among patients who need implant restoration or facial reconstruction work.
If you need dental implants or any other types of reconstructive work, speak with the expert team at Pacific Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center. They assess your oral health and advise you on your next steps.
Why might you need a bone or soft tissue graft?
The main reasons for bone grafts are for jaw preservation and jaw stabilization.
Jaw preservation
A bone graft minimizes the jawbone from receding following an invasive process such as periodontal disease or tooth extraction.
Jaw stabilization
Your dentist may need to stabilize your jaw foundation to correct any deformities and provide support ahead of implant surgery or restoration work.
Oftentimes, when your bone recedes, your soft tissue (gum tissue) will recede with the bone. Soft tissue grafts rebuild receding gums so that your implants can last longer.
The team at Pacific Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center uses platelet rich in fibrin (PRF) in conjunction with the bone and soft tissue grafts to promote healing and minimize the chance of failure.
What are common bone and soft tissue grafting treatments?
Bone and soft tissue grafts vary depending on the reason for the procedure. Here's a closer look at three of the most common treatments.
Socket preservation graft
Once a tooth is lost, the bony socket holding the tooth resorbs about 40 percent in a matter of months. When allogenic grafts are placed in the socket of an extracted tooth, this minimizes the bone loss so that the implant placement can be performed more predictably.
Ridge augmentation (vertical and horizontal grafts)
A ridge augmentation corrects issues with the alveolar ridge bone. The alveolar ridge is an extension of your upper and lower jaw and holds the teeth sockets. Over time, it can break down. A ridge augmentation procedure widens and adds height to the jaw to restore density.
Sinus grafts
There's not much bone in the upper mouth region, which makes it hard to replace lost teeth. Your surgeon corrects this by lifting the membrane inside the sinus cavity and placing a bone graft in the void. The bone graft provides a foundation for placing tooth implants.
Connective tissue grafts
You surgeon removes small pieces of soft tissue from another area of your mouth and implants them onto the damaged gum. This type of gum grafting can increase the longevity of your implants.
A bone or soft tissue graft may sound daunting, but you're in expert hands when you partner with Pacific Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center. Reach out to schedule a consultation. Call the practice or book an appointment through the online inquiry form.
