Bone Grafting

Major Bone Grafting

Major bone grafts are used to repair defects in the jaw. These defects are usually caused by traumatic injuries, tumor surgery or congenital defects. Large defects are repaired using the patient’s own bone. If the jaw has a significant amount of deterioration, areas of bone harvest will be the skull, hip or lateral knee.

Minor Bone Grafting

Minor bone grafts repair implant sites where a previous extraction has taken place or severe bone deterioration has resulted from injury or gum disease. The bone is obtained from a tissue bank taken from the jaw or larger bones like the hip. To replace bone in the upper jaw, sinus bone grafts are performed. Special membranes are sometimes used to dissolve under the gum to protect the bone graft and encourage regeneration.

Ridge Expansion

A patient will need a ridge expansion when the ridge is reabsorbed and needs an increase in height or width. The bone graft will restore lost bone dimension when the ridge is too thin to place an implant. The ridge of the jaw is expanded by mechanical means in this procedure. The bone graft will need to be placed and mature for a few months before the implant can be placed.

Call TFD - Portland at 517-647-6205 for a consultation.