Bone Grafting for Dental Implants

Preservation of Bone Following Tooth Extraction

Bone grafting is one of the primary reasons dentists refer surgical tooth extraction to an oral surgeon such as Dr. Goeckermann.  In order to place a dental implant in an extraction site, Dr. Goeckermann may apply a bone graft in order to facilitate new bone growth that can support the implant.  Bone grafting also prevents the gum tissue from shrinking into the collapsed socket.  

Foundation for Dental Implant Placement

There are many reasons why a patient experiences bone loss, or deterioration, including: periodontal (gum) disease, trauma, infection, and tooth loss or removal.  When there is insufficient bone to support a dental implant, it is necessary to add, or graft, bone.  Sometimes bone is taken from another area of the mouth, other times synthetic bone is used to graft the area where a dental implant will be placed.  Often, grafting can be done at the same time as the placement of the implant.

Improvement of Anterior Esthetics 

The bone in the front of the mouth is quite thin, so when a front tooth is lost or removed, the bone resorbs, or deteriorates, much more quickly than bone in the back of the mouth.  Eventually, this leads to a visible bony defect.  When multiple front teeth are lost in the front of the mouth (anterior), the bone resorption causes the lip to collapse, undermining the facial profile.

Scientific studies indicate that in the majority of cases, the esthetic results of implant treatment in the anterior portion of the mouth are significantly improved with bone grafting.  Any defects in the bone resulting from tooth loss can be corrected with proper bone grafting, creating gum tissue and lip support for optimal esthetic results.

For more information, visit Dental Implant Guide/Bone Grafting