The Benefits of Synthetic Bone

Having a strong and healthy jaw is important for overall dental wellness and even the aesthetics of your smile. To reinforce this structure, bone grafts are often performed after a tooth has been extracted or before dental implants are placed.

While developing your treatment plan, Dr. Okamoto determines if a bone graft will improve your dental health. If so, you have more than one choice available: synthetic, lab-created grafts or organic bone.

Minimally Invasive Care

You always have the option to have bone taken from areas that include the chin or thigh. As your own organic tissue, these grafts have a high likelihood of successfully bonding with surrounding tissue. However, taking that bone from elsewhere on your body creates a secondary treatment site.
Synthetic bone grafts are provided by a lab and can be placed directly at the site of the lost tooth or depleted bone volume. There is no need to create a secondary treatment area.

Safe and Sterile Grafting Procedures

While every measure is taken to ensure donor tissue added to your smile is safe and sterile, regardless of the material used, synthetic bone grafts are created in a sterile lab environment  and not taken from a donor. Donor bone must be processed to make it safe for grafting, but synthetic bone does not increase risk for health complications.

Your synthetic bone graft is created with the use of many different and biocompatible materials, including protein, growth factors, and white dental composite. This process minimizes the risk of rejection and irritation for patients who require bone augmentation before additional restorative dentistry can be performed.

Important Considerations

There are certainly many benefits to having a bone graft, no matter which material you choose – and every approach has its own unique benefits and considerations to take into account before you decide on a treatment method. Synthetic tissue creates a bridge or supportive framework that encourages bone to grow around and over it, in a manner similar to how a trellis directs plants to grow and spread in a desired location. On the other hand, organic bone expands from the area of placement on its own, growing naturally.

Both options create better support for teeth and implants, but one grafting material supports bone development while the other creates it.

If you have questions about dental grafting surgeries, don’t hesitate to call our office! We look forward to explaining all of the ways our team can help you enjoy a healthier smile.

What is a Bone Graft?

Hard tissue grafts are used to repair depleted bone that no longer supports teeth and jaw function. The procedure involves taking tissue from either the patient themselves or a donor and applying it in areas where bone has receded, particularly after tooth loss or complications of osteoporosis. Dr. Okamoto treats bone depletion through comprehensive care that encourages healthy, functional, and beautiful smiles. Grafting is the predominant way bone recession is treated.

Now that you understand bone grafting basics, here’s what else you should about this procedure:

Bone grafts are safe: Tissue used for the graft can be your own, made in a lab, or taken from a donor. All of these are compatible with your natural jaw bone and integrate well. Grafting materials must be certified before they are provided to a patient, so all of them are safe avenues for creating a more supportive oral structure.

Bone grafts restore aesthetic: Bone depletion creates a prematurely aged and sunken appearance. When lost teeth or other health issues affect bone volume, the only way to restore a natural aesthetic is through grafting procedures. Augmenting bone structure restores a full and healthy appearance. Dr. Okamoto provides patient with the completely healthy and natural-looking smiles they deserve; bone graft procedures can give patients the chance at a beautiful smile again.

Bone grafts support better function and treatment results: As bone loss progresses, your teeth may begin to shift out of place, making everyday function uncomfortable and difficult. Loose and unstable teeth are at a higher risk for loss, which compounds bone health problems.  A bone graft bolsters jaw strength and provides security for natural teeth. If you are interested in dental implants to replace lost teeth, a bone graft creates the ideal environment to support lasting treatment success.

Can Bone be Compromised again After a Graft?

Maintaining oral health is dependent on seeking the most beneficial treatment to support bone health and development, as well as replacement for missing teeth. The addition of a bone graft actually encourages the development of new bone in the area, improving more than the region where the graft was placed. If you choose implants to replace lost teeth, you can enjoy the benefits of healthy, dense bone volume with minimized risks for additional bone loss.

Contact us for Comprehensive Treatment for Bone Loss, Missing Teeth, and Dental Implants

Dr. Okamoto and his team are prepared to treat bone health problems and advanced tooth loss through grafting procedures. Contact our office today for more information on whether you can benefit from a bone graft.

Why You May Need a Bone Graft before Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implants provide an ideal solution to missing teeth. With implants, patients get new teeth that behave and look like natural teeth, from roots to crown. However, in order for implants to be strong and improve your oral health, some pre-treatments may be necessary. It’s not uncommon for patients to require a bone graft before implants can be placed. Here’s why:

Prolonged Lack of Natural Teeth

When you’re missing teeth for an extended period of time, jaw bone density in that area will begin to lessen. Your natural tooth roots simulate bone health, but when they’re gone, bone slowly grows weaker. Bone grafts help to build up quality bone in this area, so implants can be placed at the site of missing teeth and act as sturdy anchors for prosthetics like crowns, bridges and dentures.

Stronger Osseointegration

Implants are as strong as they are because bone is naturally compatible with titanium, the material from which implants posts are created. When implants are placed, the posts begin to bond and merge with bone, just like a real tooth. If you have poor bone quality, or thin bone density, there is less supporting tissue for implants to bond with. Bone grafts are sometimes necessary to ensure proper integration.

Longevity of Treatment Results

Implants placed accurately into dense bone, and which are allowed to integrate properly, prove to be long-lasting replacements for missing teeth. With a bone graft, implant dentistry can support life-long and high-functioning replacements for lost or extracted teeth.

Only a dentist can determine if a bone graft is necessary before you can receive dental implants. At our Torrance dental office, Dr. Okamoto performs comprehensive exams to ensure that your smile is healthy enough for dental implants. If a bone graft is necessary, we have an on-site surgical suite and can perform your pre-implant bone graft in our office. Contact Dr. Steven Okamoto for more information about how bone grafting benefits successful implant treatment.