Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that uses transplanted bone to promote your body’s natural bone-making process. Dentists use Encino bone grafting for jaw reinforcement before placing a tooth implant. Patients who don’t have enough bone structure to support an implant usually require bone grafting to avoid dental implant failure and other complications. Surgeons may use bone from parts of your body such as hips and legs or bone tissue from cadavers to perform the graft. Here is how to prepare, the risks, and what to expect during a bone grafting procedure.
Preparing for bone grafting
Like any other surgical procedure, consultation is vital to understand the dos and don’ts before the process. During an initial discussion with your surgeon, you get to know what the process involves. Here is also when you ask any questions about bone grafting to avoid any uncertainties or debunk any myths you may have. You may need to provide a list of your current medications and supplements to your healthcare provider. Some drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin have blood-thinning properties, so you may need to discontinue their usage some weeks before the procedure.
Your healthcare provider may also inquire about your lifestyle, including whether you smoke. Smoking impedes healing, so you may need to stop smoking before your procedure. Be sure to inform your doctor of any changes in your overall health, like a recent fever. Your surgeon may also require you not to eat or drink anything past midnight of the night before the procedure.
What are the risks of bone grafting?
A bone grafting procedure is generally safe, but it poses several risks, including bleeding, blood clot, nerve damage, infection, chronic pain, and complications from anesthesia. While bone grafting promotes healing, there is still a risk of your bone not healing. Most of your specific risks vary based on the reason for your bone graft. Other factors such as your age, type of bone grafting, and overall health also dictate your chances of developing complications. For example, people who smoke or have diabetes may have healing problems after surgery. It is essential to discuss if any of these risk factors apply to you with your specialist.
Bone grafting procedure
The details of the procedure significantly vary depending on the reason for your surgery. For example, a bone grafting procedure to strengthen your jawbone is the procedure to promote bone growth due to a fracture. Your healthcare provider is in the best position to explain the details of your surgery. The following are general steps of a bone grafting procedure.
You will receive anesthesia to temporarily block sensation and keep you comfortable during the procedure. Using a disinfectant, the surgeon cleans your skin before making an incision to access the bone that needs grafting. If you are using your bone, the surgeon creates another incision to harvest bone from a different part of your body, including your ribs, hips, and legs. The surgeon may remove a small portion of bone before placing the graft and securing it with special screws. Finally, your surgeon closes the layers of skin and muscle on the incision sites.
Book a session with your surgeon at Sargon Dental for further inquiries about bone grafting.