4 Reasons You May Need Bone Graft Surgery

Whenever methods of oral surgery come up, most of us shy away from the fear of pain.

Yet, when it comes to bone graft surgery, the benefits are so numerous for the right cases. For example, if you’re thinking about getting dental implants, be sure your gums and bone are in good shape first. You may need a bone transplant if your bone is too thin or fragile.

Healthy bone tissue is transplanted during a bone graft procedure to aid with bone regeneration. Keep on reading for our full breakdown of everything you need to know about getting a bone graft in a dental setting. We’ll explore the four main reasons it’s used in the field.

What Is a Bone Graft?

It is possible to correct issues with the bones or joints by performing surgery known as bone grafting.

Dentists can repair bones that you have injured due to trauma or joint problems by using bone grafting. As a bone-growth agent, it’s used in the case of a complete knee replacement, when bone loss or a fracture has occurred. Specialists can use bone grafts to restore bone density or to stabilize a fractured or destabilized structure.

Bone grafts can come from your own or a donor’s own bone, or they can be completely synthetic. If the body accepts it, it may serve as a foundation for the growth of new, live bone.

Types of Bone Grafts

Bone transplants are most often of two types. There’s allograft and autograft.

Donor bone, which specialists have cleaned and preserved in tissue banks, is used in allografts. It is possible to use an autograft, which is an organ or bone from your own body, such as cartilage from your knee or bone from your wrist.

The kind of transplant the surgeon uses is determined by the harm your body has suffered.

Hip, knee and long bone reconstructions often employ allografts. Arms and legs are examples of long bones.

You don’t have to go through the pain of a second procedure to get the bone. Because no extra incisions or surgery is necessary, you have a lesser chance of infection.

In contrast to organ transplants, where live cells are present, allograft bone transplants use bone that contains no living cells. No blood type matching is required between the donor and receiver since the donated bone does not contain live marrow.

Getting Ready for Bone Graft Surgery?

The best way to prepare for bone transplant surgery is to talk to your doctor.

Whether you’re on blood thinners, find out if you should stop taking them before the procedure. Try to quit smoking before your surgery to aid in the healing process.

Inform your doctor about all of your medications, including over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin. Tell your doctor about any recent health changes, such as a recent fever.

A CT scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may be required prior to your surgery (MRI).

Depending on why you require a bone transplant, you may have to make other preparations ahead of time. As an example, you may need to change your living arrangements if you are unable to put weight on your leg after surgery. The night before your surgery, do not eat or drink anything after midnight.

Reasons Why You Might Need a Bone Graft Surgery

Now that you’re familiar with the kinds of bone grafting, you’ll notice that it has many applications.

But, for the sake of this article, we’ll just cover its uses in oral surgery like jaw surgery, or even bone grafting for wisdom teeth.

1. Missing Teeth

Bone grafting is almost always required when a tooth is missing, whether it was extracted or knocked out by accident.

If you don’t have teeth to support your jawbone, it will degenerate with time, making it more difficult to have dental implants. It is possible to repair and prevent jawbone loss with bone grafting, allowing patients to have a wider range of treatment choices for restoring a lost tooth.

2. Dealing with Periodontal Disease

Gum disease, which is another name for periodontal disease, may weaken the jawbone and lead to the loosening of the teeth. Bone grafting and periodontal disease treatment are both offered to help patients get their teeth back on track.

When a patient notices that a tooth is loose, the first thing they generally consider is a dental implant. Patients who have had periodontal disease for a long time may have to undergo bone grafting to ensure that implants can be placed.

3. Fixing Teeth Alignment Problems

It’s hard to believe, but teeth that are out of place might lead to bone loss over time. Bone stimulation may diminish with time if teeth are not realigned if they have over-erupted or are otherwise misaligned. You might even need a bone graft for wisdom teeth.

There are a variety of ways to straighten teeth, as well as several advantages to doing so. Even if the teeth are re-aligned, bone grafting may still be necessary to offer enough support for the teeth.

4. Dental Implants

Patients who need bone grafting do so in order to ensure that their dental implants are well-supported.

But, getting implants may not be feasible if the bone supporting them is weak. Specialists can use bone grafting to restore lost bone, even those lost for a long period of time, according to today’s cutting-edge technology. Patients may have dental implants when their supporting structure has been repaired, and they will be able to smile confidently and healthily again.

Recovery From Dental Bone Graft

You may have discomfort, swelling, and bruising after a dental bone transplant. In a few days, these symptoms will go away. Pain medications may be used to treat the symptoms. Additionally, your dentist may prescribe you antibiotics. It is imperative that they be taken as recommended.

Over the first several days, you may detect little pieces of bone emerging from the spot. Pieces like these might look like salt or sand.

This isn’t unusual, but you should still see your dentist ensure that your wounds are healing properly.

The Nuances of a Bone Graft

Bone or tooth loss may have a cascading impact on your dental health. For dental implants and other restorative operations, dental bone graft surgery may increase your chances of success and healing.

Hopefully, our guide has given you a solid understanding of bone grafts in a dental setting. Next, you’ll want to check out our health section for more tips and advice for the recovery stage.