Bone Grafting in Princeton and Flemington, NJ

The Challenge of Bone Loss

Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies, or is reabsorbed, by the body. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for the placement of dental implants. In these situations, many patients are not immediate candidates for dental implants, as the foundation is not strong enough to support them.

Our Ability to Regenerate Bone

Today, our surgeons have the ability to grow bone right where it is needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place dental implants of the proper length and width, but it also gives us a chance to restore the jaw's natural function and aesthetic appearance. Using a variety of advanced bone grafting techniques, we can repair implant sites and jaw defects to create a healthy, stable foundation for your smile.

Understanding Jaw Bone Loss: The Causes

Jaw bone loss, or atrophy, can occur for several reasons, leaving a deficient foundation that is unsuitable for dental implants. Understanding the cause is the first step in creating a plan to restore it. The most common reasons for bone deterioration include:

• Tooth Extraction or Loss: Your natural teeth play a crucial role in maintaining the density of your jaw. The daily stimulation from chewing and biting sends signals through the tooth roots that tell your body to preserve the surrounding bone. When a tooth is lost or extracted, these signals cease, and the body begins to resorb the "unused" bone, causing it to shrink in both height and width over time.
• Periodontal (Gum) Disease: Advanced gum disease is a chronic bacterial infection that attacks the structures supporting your teeth. The infection can destroy the ligaments and, eventually, the alveolar bone itself, leading to loose teeth and significant bone deterioration even before a tooth is lost.
• Traumatic Injury: A significant injury to the face or jaw can fracture or crush the bone. After the injury heals, there may be a defect or a significant loss of bone volume in the affected area that requires a graft to properly restore the jaw's original form and function.

Minor Bone Grafting

Minor bone grafts are routine procedures that can be performed in our office to build support for dental implants. The bone is typically obtained from a sterile, FDA-regulated tissue bank. In some cases, special membranes may be utilized that dissolve under the gum to protect the bone graft and encourage bone regeneration. This is called guided bone regeneration.

Major Bone Grafting

Major bone grafts are more extensive procedures typically performed in a hospital operating room to repair larger defects of the jaws. These defects may arise as a result of traumatic injuries, tumor surgery, or congenital defects. For these large repairs, the patient’s own bone is often used, harvested from sites such as the skull, hip, or tibia.

Types of Bone Grafting Procedures

Our surgeons are highly skilled in a wide range of bone grafting techniques. After a thorough evaluation using 3D imaging, they will recommend the approach best suited for your specific clinical needs.

Socket Preservation

When a tooth is extracted, the empty socket can collapse and lose significant bone volume in a short amount of time. Socket preservation is a proactive procedure performed at the same time as the tooth extraction. Your surgeon will place bone grafting material directly into the empty socket. This acts as a scaffold, preventing the surrounding bone from shrinking and creating a solid foundation for a future dental implant.

Ridge Augmentation

If a tooth has been missing for some time, the jaw ridge may have become too thin or short to support an implant. Ridge augmentation is a procedure designed to rebuild the natural height and width of the jaw bone. By adding bone back to the deficient area, we can restore the original contour of the ridge, which is essential for placing a dental implant in the ideal position for both function and aesthetics.

Sinus Lift (Sinus Augmentation)

The maxillary sinuses are natural, air-filled spaces located just above your upper back teeth. When upper teeth are lost, the bone separating the mouth from the sinus can become very thin. A sinus lift is a specialized procedure that raises the sinus membrane and places bone grafting material into that space. This increases the vertical height of the bone, creating the necessary support for placing dental implants in the upper jaw.

Nerve Repositioning

The inferior alveolar nerve, which gives feeling to the lower lip and chin, runs through the lower jaw. In rare cases where severe bone loss has occurred, this nerve may need to be moved to make room for a dental implant. This is a complex procedure that is only considered when other, less aggressive options are not viable.

Bone Grafting Materials and Sources

To achieve the best results, our surgeons select the ideal material for your needs from several safe and effective sources:

• Patient's Own Bone (Autograft): For major defects, using the patient’s own bone often yields the best results. This bone is typically harvested from the chin, the back of the jaw, the hip, or the tibia.
• From a Tissue Bank (Allograft): For most in-office procedures, we use sterile, processed bone from an FDA-regulated tissue bank. This material is very safe and acts as a scaffold to promote your own bone to grow into the repair site.
• Synthetic Materials: In some cases, synthetic materials can be used to stimulate bone formation.
• Growth Factors: We can even use factors from your own blood (PRF) to accelerate and promote bone formation in graft areas, enhancing the healing process.

Your Comfort During Surgery

All bone grafting procedures are performed in our out-office surgical suite under IV sedation or general anesthesia to ensure you are completely comfortable. After you are discharged, we recommend bed rest for one day and limited physical activity for one week to ensure proper healing.