Bone Grafting in El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Auburn, CA

The jaw bone is very strong and works hard every day to help you bite, chew, speak, and breathe. Conditions such as disease, trauma, certain medications, or tooth loss can cause the jaw bone to deteriorate over time. Bone grafting is an effective treatment for jaw bone loss, as it helps rebuild bone anywhere it is needed.

Dr. Liberty offers a variety of bone grafting techniques to treat jaw bone loss. By rebuilding the jaw bone, we can restore functionality and symmetry to the face and create a strong foundation for future dental implant placement. Contact Golden Foothills Oral, Facial, & Dental Implant Surgery today to schedule your appointment with our oral health experts.

How Does a Dental Bone Graft Work?

Bone grafts add volume and density to your jaw in areas that have deteriorated. Bone graft material can come from your own body (autogenous graft), from a tissue bank (allograft), from an animal tissue bank (xenograft), or created using synthetic materials (alloplast).

Your oral surgeon will place the graft material where new bone is needed. The graft acts as a framework that your body will heal around.

Do I Need a Bone Graft?

Bone grafting is a part of many other oral and maxillofacial procedures. If you have already experienced bone loss or your surgeon wishes to prevent future bone loss, bone grafts will likely be a part of your treatment plan. Here are some instances where a bone graft may be recommended:

• After a tooth extraction
• Before placing a dental implant
• During or after dentures
• If gum disease has caused bone loss

During your consultation, we will examine your oral health and determine if bone grafting will be a part of your treatment plan.

Types of Bone Graft Treatments

There are two categories of bone grafts: minor and major. Minor bone grafting repairs implant sites or areas of inadequate bone structure, while major bone grafting repairs larger jaw defects and is often performed in an operating room. We perform minor bone grafting procedures in our offices and offer several different types depending on your needs.

Ridge Augmentation

The alveolar ridge is the bone in your mouth that supports teeth. If teeth have been missing for a long time, this bone can deteriorate. A ridge augmentation restores the height and width of the alveolar ridge, providing an adequate foundation for dental implants. We may also perform ridge augmentation following a tooth extraction to improve the contour of the gums.

Sinus Lift

Your sinuses are air-filled spaces behind your cheeks above your upper teeth. If a tooth in the upper arch is removed or knocked out, the membrane dividing the sinus from the oral cavity may be too thin to properly support a dental implant. A sinus lift involves lifting the sinus and inserting a bone graft, providing enough support for future implants.

Nerve Repositioning

There is a nerve in the lower jaw called the inferior alveolar nerve, which supplies sensation to the lower lip and chin. Sometimes, this nerve blocks the path of future dental implants in the lower jaw, and we may reposition the nerve to make room. Nerve positioning ensures that we do not injure the nerve during dental implant surgery.

Socket Preservation

Also known as ridge preservation, socket preservation involves inserting a bone graft directly into the empty tooth socket following extraction. This prevents the walls of the socket from caving in and helps maintain the socket’s natural size and shape as it heals. Socket preservation also makes future implant placement much easier.

Recover Faster With Natural Growth Factors

We want your recovery to be quick and easy. Our surgeons offer bone morphogenetic protein and platelet-rich plasma treatment, which you can combine with your oral surgery procedure. When applied to the surgical site, these natural growth factors promote faster and more efficient healing, so you can resume your normal activities as soon as possible.

BMP and PRP treatments do not require additional harvest sites, only a small sample of blood that contains your body’s natural healing factors. We will talk about these options during your consultation and determine if BMP or PRP will be a part of your treatment.

Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP)

Bone morphogenetic protein induces the formation of new cartilage and bone. We will collect a small blood sample prior to surgery and spin the sample in a centrifuge to separate the protein. Then, we soak the BMP onto a sponge and apply it to the surgical site. This sponge is designed to resorb over time while stimulating your body to produce the necessary cells for healing.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet-rich plasma is a blood byproduct rich in platelets, which form blood clots and release growth factors into a wound. Similar to the BMP process, we will take a small blood sample and spin it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets. Your surgeon can then mix the PRP directly with the bone graft material to promote faster healing.

Bone Grafting in El Dorado Hills, Folsom, and Auburn, CA

Our experts will create a custom treatment plan during your first visit. If bone grafting will be a part of your oral surgery care, we will walk you through each step and what to expect. Contact our practice today to learn more about bone grafting or to schedule your consultation.