What Is A Bone Graft? Why Are They Needed?
Why is a bone graft needed?
Bone grafting is performed to reverse the bone loss/destruction caused by periodontal disease, trauma, or ill fitting removable dentures. It is also used to augment bone to permit implant placement, such as augmenting bone in the sinus area for implant placement, or augmenting bone to enhance the fit and comfort of removable prostheses, or to enhance esthetics of a missing tooth site in the smile zone. When one loses a tooth, as in an extraction, the surrounding bone collapses. To preserve this bone for future implant placement or for esthetics, a bone graft is used.
What are the types of bone graft?
- autogenous - bone taken from one area of the patient and transplanted to another area requiring such grafting
- allograft - either synthetic bone or bone from a bone bank (cadaver bone)
- xenograft - bovine /cow bone
Which graft is used and when and why?
Autogenous bone is the "gold standard" and oftentimes has the most predictable results. This is described as the best type of graft because such bone is live bone with live active cellular elements that enhance bone growth, whereas other types of grafts are devoid of any active cellular material.
Allografts and Xenografts both do not require a second surgical site as does the autogenous bone. Ample amounts can be easily obtained.
Diagnosis/Preparation
The surgeon does a clinical examination, and conducts tests to determine the necessity of a bone graft. Diagnostic tests determine the precise location of damage. These tests include x rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) scan. They provide an image of the affected area, and indicate the exact amount of damage that has occurred due to the fracture or defect.
Orthopedic surgeries pose varying degrees of difficulty. The patient is instructed on what will take place during the procedure, as well as risks involved. A consent form is obtained before surgery.
The following activities will help the patient prepare for surgery.
- thorough physician consult before surgery
- banking some of his or her own blood in case a transfusion is needed
- eating well to achieve good nutritional status before and after surgery
- following a recommended exercise program before and after surgery.
- maintaining a positive attitude
- smoking cessation
Please refer to our Surgical Instructions for detailed instructions/guidelines on post operative procedures.
- OFFICE LOCATION
- 3100 New Copeland Road
- Tyler, TX 75701
- Phone: (903) 597-2848
- Fax: (903) 593-9626
- Map | Hours
Bone Graft Risks
The risks for any surgical procedure requiring anesthesia include reactions to the medications and breathing problems. Bleeding and infection are also risks of surgery.
There is little risk of graft rejection for autografts, but there are drawbacks:
- additional surgical and anesthesia time (typically 30 minutes per procedure) to obtain or harvest the bone for grafting
- added costs for the additional surgery
- pain and infection at the site from which the graft is taken
- the relatively small amount of bone available for grafting
- surgical complications, such as infection and pain that sometimes last a longer period of time than the primary surgery (up to two years)