Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that rebuilds jawbone lost to tooth extraction, gum disease, trauma, or long-term tooth loss. At Wilmette Dental in Wilmette, IL, our doctors perform bone grafting to create adequate bone volume for dental implant placement and to preserve bone structure following tooth extraction, ensuring patients have the foundation needed for successful long-term restorations.
Why Bone Grafting Is Necessary
The jawbone requires stimulation from tooth roots to maintain its density and volume. When teeth are lost or extracted, the bone beneath begins to resorb through a natural process called resorption. Over time, this bone loss can become severe, creating insufficient bone for implant placement, causing changes in facial contour and appearance, reducing the stability of remaining teeth, and complicating future restorative treatment.
Bone grafting rebuilds lost bone, creating the structural foundation needed for implants and other restorative procedures.
Bone Loss & Its Impact On Oral Health
Bone loss affects more than just the immediate area of tooth loss. It creates a cascade of consequences, including difficulty placing dental implants without extensive grafting, reduced support for adjacent teeth leading to shifting and further loss, changes in bite alignment and facial structure, and decreased options for tooth replacement.
The longer bone loss continues untreated, the more difficult and extensive the reconstruction becomes. Addressing bone loss promptly preserves more options for future treatment.
Types Of Bone Grafting Materials
Several types of bone graft material are used depending on the extent of bone loss and the location being grafted.
Autograft
Uses bone harvested from the patient's own body, typically from the jaw or chin. This is the gold standard for bone grafting because the body readily accepts its own tissue.
Allograft
Uses sterilized donor bone from a tissue bank, eliminating the need to harvest bone from the patient.
Xenograft
Uses processed bone from animal sources, typically bovine, that is biocompatible with human tissue.
Alloplast
Uses synthetic bone graft materials designed to promote natural bone growth.
Our doctors select the most appropriate graft material based on the clinical demands of each case.
Bone Grafting For Dental Implants
The most common reason for bone grafting is to create adequate bone volume for successful implant placement. Implants require sufficient bone height, width, and density to integrate properly and provide long-term stability.
When bone loss has reduced available bone below the minimum required for implant placement, grafting rebuilds the deficient area and creates the foundation needed for predictable implant success. In some cases, grafting and implant placement can occur simultaneously. In other cases, the graft must heal for several months before implants can be placed.
The Grafting Procedure Explained
Bone grafting is performed under local anesthesia, with sedation available for anxious patients. Our doctors carefully place the graft material at the deficient site, often using a barrier membrane to protect the graft and encourage bone regeneration. The tissue is sutured closed, and the area is left to heal.
Ridge preservation grafting following tooth extraction places graft material into the extraction socket immediately after the tooth is removed, preventing the bone collapse that typically follows extraction and preserving the site for future implant placement.
Healing & Bone Regeneration
Bone grafts heal through a process where the graft material serves as a scaffold for new bone growth. Over four to six months, the body gradually replaces the graft material with natural bone, creating a stable, permanent foundation.
Preparing For Future Restorations
Bone grafting creates the structural foundation needed for successful implant placement and long-term restorative stability. Investing in grafting when needed protects future treatment options and ensures the best possible long-term outcomes.
Rebuild Your Foundation
At Wilmette Dental, our doctors provide bone grafting with surgical precision and a commitment to creating the foundation your smile needs. Call our Wilmette, IL office or book online to schedule your consultation.