About Bone Grafting

What is Bone Grafting?

Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies, or resorbs. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone, perhaps leaving a site unsuitable for placement of dental implants.

With bone grafting, Dr. Hyde, Dr. Greising and Dr. Tzanos now have the opportunity to not only replace bone where it is missing, but we also the ability to promote new bone growth in that location! This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and an esthetic appearance.

Types of Bone Grafts

Depending on your specific needs,  Drs. Hyde, Greising and Tzanos will determine the most appropriate graft material to meet the needs of your treatment plan.  We utilize materials with the intent of optimizing the healing response and long term predictability and prognosis for success.

Autogenous Bone Grafts:  

Autogenous bone grafts, also known as autografts, are made from your own bone, taken from somewhere else in the body. The bone is typically harvested from the chin or lower jaw. Autogenous bone grafts are advantageous in that the graft material is live bone, meaning it contains living cellular elements that may enhance bone growth.

However, one downside to the autograft is that it requires a second procedure to harvest bone from elsewhere in the body. Depending on your condition, a second procedure may not be in your best interest.

Allogenic Bone:

Allogenic bone, or an allograft, is non-living human donor bone which is processed to remove cellular components.  The bone graft material is also sterilized as part of the processing technique.  This graft material acts as a matrix or scaffold for new bone to initiate growth upon, filling the defect or void with new bone.

Allografts are advantageous in that they do not require a second procedure to harvest your own bone, as with autografts.

Xenogenic Bone:

Xenogenic bone is derived from non-living bone of another species, usually a cow. The bone is processed and sterilized to make it safe and effective as a graft material. Like allografts, xenogenic grafts serve as a framework for bone from the surrounding area to grow and fill the void.

As with allografts, xenografts are advantageous in that they do not require a second procedure to harvest your own bone.

Infuse® Bone Graft (rhBMP-2/ACS):

Nothing is as reliable for placing dental implants as a patient’s own bone, and in more severe deficiencies in the jawbone or sinuses, Drs. Hyde, Greising and Tzanos may opt to utilize a material known as Infuse® Bone Graft (rhBMP-2/ACS).  This product uses a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2) critical in the cascade of bone formation, resulting in the natural formation of mineralized bone.  Once the bone formation is stable enough, we can then proceed with the placement of dental implants.

The doctors at Northwest Periodontics & Implants will determine which type of graft material is most appropriate for your specific condition.