It is very common for patients who have been missing a tooth or several teeth for an extended period of time to need a bone grafting procedure. If a tooth is lost and not replaced, the jaw bone begins to deteriorate, or undergo resorption, making it very difficult to perform some tooth replacement procedures, such as dental implant placement. If there is not enough bone present for the implant to attach itself to the jaw, the implant is often not stable enough to support the tooth crown and is likely to have future complications. There are many different procedures that can be performed, and the treatment that you receive will depend on your individual case and oral needs.

The material used to create a bone graft can be obtained from a variety of sources. If you are able to utilize your own bone, it will likely be taken from another area inside the mouth around the third molar in the upper or lower jaw or the chin, or from your hip or tibia. More commonly, banked bone or substitute bone mineral is utilized in minor bone grafting situations. If you are not a candidate to use your own bone, it can be obtained from a tissue bank or a mineral bone substitute can be used.

Socket Preservation

One of the small oral bone grafts that you may receive will be placed to fill an empty tooth socket after a tooth has been lost or extracted. The placement of this bone graft is fairly simple and usually does not involve an extensive recovery period. The bone graft combines with your natural bone for several weeks after the procedure and will provide a strong anchor for a replacement dental implant.

Sinus Lift Procedure

All patients have maxillary sinuses behind their cheeks and on top of their upper teeth. Unfortunately, these sinuses have nothing in them and the bone that separates the mouth from the sinus is often limited. When you lose a tooth in the upper jaw, it can be more difficult to replace them with dental implants because there is not enough bone present. To solve this problem, the surgical team at Northeast Surgical Specialists can perform a sinus lift procedure in which the oral surgeon enters into the sinus cavity and lifts up the sinus membrane. A bone graft is placed below the membrane, which will integrate with the bone in the jaw over several months. Once the graft has integrated, dental implants can be placed.

Ridge Expansion

A more complex form of bone grafting may be necessary when the alveolar ridge bone, a special type of bone surrounding and supporting teeth, begins to deteriorate or lose density due to natural breakdown. A ridge expansion can be performed to widen or heighten the jaw in order to increase the bone density and have implants placed. During ridge expansion, the bony ridge of the jaw is split surgically and bone graft material is inserted into the space made.

Nerve Repositioning

In some cases, the inferior alveolar nerve, which runs along the lower jaw bone and gives sensation to the lower lip and chin, must be repositioned in order for dental implants to be placed. This is only an issue if the implant is being placed in the area of the back two molars or second premolar.

Northeast Surgical Specialists maintains two office locations in Queensbury & Saratoga Springs, NY, and offers various oral surgical procedures and treatments, including bone graft procedures. Drs. Condry and Kelling service all of Warren and Saratoga Counties including Gansevoort, Ticonderoga, Malta, Cambridge, Galway, Granville, Queensbury, Burnt Hills, South Glens Falls, Greenwich, Corinth, Warrensbury, Greenfield Center, Ballston Lake, Wilton, Hudson Falls, Clifton Park, Lake George, Fort Ann, Mechanicville, Milton, Saranac Lake, Saratoga Springs, Lake Placid, Gloversville, Schroon Lake, Ballston Spa, Hoosick Falls and Glens Falls.

More information about Bone Graft and Sinus Lift procedures can be found at:

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