Dental bone grafting material is an important aspect of many dental procedures, as it helps to restore structural integrity and strength to damaged or diseased bones in the mouth. Bone grafts can come from several sources, depending on the needs of the patient and the dental procedure being performed, but all bone graft materials must be biologically compatible with the body. The most common types of materials used in dental bone grafting are listed below, including when they are used and how they are harvested from human and animal donors.
Introduction
Dental bone grafts are used when a tooth is removed to help fill the space left by the missing tooth. This is typically done if the patient has a deep gum recession, or there is not enough bone support for a dental implant to be safely placed. There are two main types of materials that are used in dental bone grafts: synthetic material and human tissue. Synthetic material can include titanium, calcium hydroxyapatite (a type of ceramic), xenograft (grafted tissue from a non-human species), or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).
Human tissue is usually harvested from the iliac crest (the lower part of your hipbone) or the posterior iliac crest (near your spine). A mixture of both can also be used. Before placing it in the mouth, doctors will sterilize these materials with heat or radiation so that bacteria doesn’t spread into their body through the grafted area. The doctor will then place them on top of each other in layers and pack them together before inserting them back into the mouth.
Autografts
Before dental implants can be inserted, a bone graft is necessary to provide the implant with a stable foundation. There are many different materials that can be used for dental bone grafts. However, the most popular one is an autograft – which involves taking bone from the patient’s own body for transplantation into their mouth. Autografts are usually used to reconstruct missing teeth and make a bridge between two healthy teeth. In some cases, they’re also used to construct dentures or act as spacers for adjacent teeth that have been removed due to severe decay or gum disease.
Before dental implants can be inserted, a bone graft is necessary to provide the implant with a stable foundation. As mentioned before, there are many different materials that can be used for dental bone grafts; however, the most popular one is an autograft – which involves taking bone from the patient’s own body for transplantation into their mouth. Autografts are usually used to reconstruct missing teeth and make a bridge between two healthy teeth. In some cases, they’re also used to construct dentures or act as spacers for adjacent teeth that have been removed due to severe decay or gum disease
Allografts
Before dental implants became commonplace, the most commonly used material for bone grafts is alloplasts. Alloplast was a material that is made of an organic polymer and can be molded into desired shapes. The implantation of this type of grafts follows the extraction of the natural tooth and before or after placement, to fill up any gaps in between. For example, if there are teeth missing from the front row, alloplasts could be used to form a bridge across those gaps with ease.
When looking at alloplasts before and after dental implants, it becomes clear that with bone grafts before dental implants were available, the patient’s jawbone had to provide most of the support for those missing teeth.
Xenografts
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that replaces missing bone with either one’s own or donated bone. One of the most common reasons for needing a bone graft is because of tooth loss. Without teeth to chew, the mandible (jawbone) may shrink and not be able to support the natural overbite.
There are two different types of procedures for implanting dental implants: guided implant surgery and non-guided implant surgery. The type of surgical procedure you will have will depend on your specific situation and what your dentist recommends for you. For example, if you are missing multiple teeth, have a history of smoking, or have had previous gum disease then your dentist may recommend that you opt for non-guided implant surgery.
Alloplasts
Before dental implants can be inserted, the damaged bone needs to be replaced. This is where dental bone grafts come in handy. They are basically a substitute for the missing or damaged bone and can also help speed up the process of healing after an implant has been placed. The most common material used for dental bone grafts is alloplasts, which consists of a plastic-like material that will provide some stability to the area until it heals. There are two types of alloplasts: synthetic and natural. Synthetic alloplasts are made from various plastics, while natural ones are derived from animals such as sheep or cows.
