Bone Grafting
Sometimes, when teeth have been missing for a while, or patients have had an injury or are suffering from gum disease, the bone around these missing teeth may have grown thinner. This occurs because tooth roots must be present in the jaw bone to ensure that the bone remains healthy. Today, thanks to advances in medical science, we have the capability to grow bone in places where it is needed, giving us the incredible ability to place stable implants and restore oral function and beautiful smiles to our patients. If you are missing bone in your jaw and are planning on dental implants, your oral surgeon may recommend that additional bone is grafted into the implant area so that your implants have a greater chance for long term success and stability.
Bone grafting procedures consist of the application of granulated bone material, growth factors, and other healing materials in the areas of your jaw that are lacking, stimulating healthy and natural new bone growth where your dental implant is to be placed. The bone that is used for grafting procedures can be attained from a tissue bank or harvested from places in your own body. Another route is to use synthetic materials for grafting.
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins. Sometimes, a substitute for using real bone, synthetic materials are used as a safe and proven alternative. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are proteins that are naturally produced in the body that help us to form new cartilage and bone. This material can be used in bone grafting to increase the bone in the jaw to support dental implant placement and eliminates the need to have a second procedure to harvest bone from elsewhere in the body. For BMP treatment, a protein solution is placed over the area of bone that needs support. This stimulates the body to create new natural tissue and bone during a healing period of several months. After the new bone has finished growing into the area, your jaw will be in good shape to receive your dental implant.
Drs. Morio, Morio, and Frerichs are extensively trained to provide the full scope of bone grafting procedures and will determine during your consultation which type of bone graft material and procedure is best suited to your individual case.
Types of Bone Grafting Procedures
Bone grafting is common for dental implant patients who require a better foundation in their jaw bone for their implants. Most of these procedures are minimally invasive and can be performed in the comfort of our surgical suite under local anesthesia. There are a few different bone and soft tissue grafting treatments that are performed at our practice to meet each one of our patient’s needs, including
- Ridge Augmentation. If the alveolar ridge (the bone surrounding and supporting teeth) has lost density, ridge augmentation can expand or heighten the jaw to prepare your mouth for successful dental implant placement. During ridge augmentation, the alveolar ridge is surgically split, and bone graft material is placed.
- Sinus Lift. Oral surgeons will recommend and perform a sinus lift procedure if there is not enough bone present between the upper jaw and the sinus cavity for successful dental implant placement. In this procedure, a bone graft that is placed below the sinus membrane integrates with the bone in the jaw over several months. Once integration with the bone is complete, dental implants that are placed in that location will have a much higher rate of success.
- Socket Preservation. Sometimes an oral surgeon will place a bone graft into the empty socket immediately after a tooth extraction. This prevents bone loss at the site and prepares the area for an eventual dental implant.
- Soft Tissue Grafts. A soft tissue graft will be recommended when periodontal disease and gum recession have changed the gum line so that is not uniform around the dental implant. For a more natural look, soft tissue grafts (small pieces of tissue taken from other areas) will be surgically implanted in the affected area. The aesthetic improvements from this procedure are not the only benefits. Soft tissue grafts can also help stop further bone loss and recession of the gums and can even help reduce root sensitivity.
- Nerve Repositioning. The inferior alveolar nerve gives feeling to the lower lip and chin. Sometimes this important nerve may need to be moved to make room for the placement of dental implants in the lower jaw. Bone grafting material is added to the area after a nerve repositioning procedure to close the space made to access the nerve. This procedure is not commonly recommended unless completely necessary, as numbness in the lower part of the face is common after surgery. This numbness typically takes a while to go away and may even be permanent. Other options will be discussed before a nerve repositioning procedure is recommended.
Because bone grafting has the incredible ability to repair implant sites with inadequate bone structure, more patients can restore their oral functionality and smiles with dental implant treatment. After a bone grafting procedure, a few months of healing is required for the bone graft to fuse with your natural bone for a stable foundation for your implants.
Types of Anesthesia
Several methods of anesthesia are available at our practice:
Patient Testimonials
Hear from our patients about their experiences with Bone Grafting and other procedures.
"My name's Brenda. I'm from Marion, Iowa, and I had bone grafts, extractions, and implants. Well, the procedure and the surgery went absolutely fabulous, and I left here with absolutely no pain. The staff is professional. They are very welcoming when you come in. They just make you feel a part of the team. Dr. Morio is the best and made me feel so absolutely comfortable with having the procedure and giving me all the details I needed in order to have the procedures that he was going to perform. Out of 5 stars, I would give Dr. Morio 10. I've got a great smile and great teeth. It's perfection here."
"Hi, my name is Bruce and I’m from Anamosa. I came to the Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa to get extractions, bone graft, and implants. Everybody here was awesome. They made me feel at home, comfortable. I felt very well taken care of. The doctor is great, I mean he sat and talked with me. He made sure I was at ease and what’s going to happen. He showed me what was going to happen before it even took place, and with information like that, that made me feel really comfortable. Being able to smile again is truly an amazing experience. I coach a lot of sports, so a lot of people see, you know, me and the public align and I’ve got a lot of compliments from them. I’m happy that I chose this practice to get my procedure done."
"My name is Aaron from Anamosa, Iowa. I came to Dr. Morio for full-arch — six implants on the top and six on the bottom. For as major of a surgery as it is, it was really no sweat. I went to work the next day. The teeth I have now are actually better than my original set, even if they were in good condition. I can talk, I can chew, I eat anything I want. The staff here at Dr. Morio's was very professional. They get you everything you need; they make sure you're comfortable. Dr. Morio is one of the nicest surgeons I guess I've ever met. I would absolutely recommend Dr. Morio. It was a great experience."
"Hi, my name’s Ashley, and I’m from Cedar Rapids. I came to the Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa to get my teeth removed. Right as I walked into the door, it was a very comforting experience and everyone was just super friendly. The doctor here is just awesome. He is [a] very nice guy, he’s very friendly, and easy to work with. The staff answered all my questions and they put my mind at ease. It was a very successful procedure. The recovery was very easy. I am very glad I chose this place to get my tooth extracted. They did such an amazing job and I’ve gotten an amazing smile."
"Hi, my name is Austin and I am from Cedar Rapids. I came to Dental Implant and Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa for tooth extraction. When I first walked into the Dental Implant and Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa, I felt very comfortable. Everybody here had a smile on their face, and I felt welcomed the entire way. The doctor I worked with was a super nice guy, very easy to get along with. He made sure to get to know me as a person as well. He made me feel very calm the entire time, which was very nice. It was a successful procedure and my recovery was great, and I continue to feel awesome even right now as well, which is great. If you live in Hiawatha and need oral surgery, I absolutely recommend the team here."
"Hi, my name is Barb, I’m from Hiawatha, and I came to Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa for a full-arch replacement. Everybody here made me feel like I was part of a family. They welcomed me with open arms. The doctor here was amazing. I just felt so comfortable and at ease with the way he spoke with me, and I had a smile on my face the whole time we were talking. My procedure went very well, it was very successful, and the recovery was everything they told me it would be. I was a Smile Again recipient, and I have never won anything in my life and it was just the most amazing moment and it’s been an amazing experience. This was a life-changing experience thanks to the team at Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa."
"Hi, my name is Avery and I'm from Robins, and I came to the Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa to get my wisdom teeth removed. Coming into this practice, I was greeted with a smile. Everybody here was really sweet and caring, and they took all the extra steps to make me feel right at home. The doctor made me feel very comfortable and happy. He's such a good person. It was a successful procedure and the recovery went just as expected. I am thrilled that I chose this practice to get my wisdom teeth removed. If you live in Iowa City and need your wisdom teeth removed, I highly recommend the team here."
"Hi, my name is Ben and I’m from Cedar Rapids, and I came here to get some baby teeth extracted. There are so many things to do when you’re waiting in the waiting room. You can watch TV and there’s very comfy couches you can sit on. Everybody here is just great, the staff is friendly and the doctor is awesome. The doctor here is very nice and he makes me feel very welcome here. He really knows his stuff. The procedure was a success and I was up and running in no time. Now that I’ve had these extractions, I can eat all the pizza I want, and that’s okay with me. I'm going to have an amazing smile and it’s all thanks to the Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa."
"I'm Brooke, and I live in Lisbon, Iowa, and I got my wisdom teeth extracted by Dr. Morio. The surgery went super fast and well, and everything just went nice and smooth. The staff absolutely was amazing and did everything to make me feel at home and comfortable, and I felt safe as soon as I walked in the door. Dr. Morio is an amazing doctor. Everything was quick, easy, and painless, and I just felt super comfortable the entire time. I would give Dr. Morio five out of five stars. For my friends in Iowa City and Hiawatha, I highly recommend Dr. Morio."
Bone Grafting in Hiawatha, IA
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, please contact our practice. Bone grafting may be recommended so that your dental implants have a stable foundation of healthy bone for long-term durability. Drs. Morio, Morio, and Frerichs will be happy to discuss your bone grafting options during your consultation to develop a treatment plan based on your unique needs. Please contact our front office to schedule with us.