Bone Grafting in Winchester VA
What is Bone grafting?
Bone grafting is a procedure used to help heal broken bones or repair bone defects. During the surgery, bone tissue is moved from one part of your body or from a donor to the area that needs repair. This can be necessary for severe fractures, bone loss due to injury or disease, or to prepare for dental implants. The transplanted bone acts like a scaffold, encouraging your body to grow new bone over time. Depending on your situation, Dr. Dickson may use bone from your own body, from a donor, or synthetic materials. Bone grafting is an important tool for orthopedic and dental surgeons to restore your bone’s strength and function.
Tooth and jaw bone loss can lead to various consequences, such as:
- Misalignment, drifting, loosening, and loss of remaining teeth
- Collapsed facial profile and limited lip support
- Skin wrinkling around the mouth and distortion of facial features
- Jaw (temporomandibular joint [TMJ]) pain, facial pain, and headaches
- Difficulty speaking and communicating
- Inadequate nutrition due to challenges with chewing and pain
- Sinus expansion
reasons for Jaw bone loss and deterioration
Jaw bone deterioration, which may necessitate a bone grafting procedure, can stem from various causes:
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Tooth Extractions: When a tooth is removed without replacement, the jaw bone can deteriorate due to lack of stimulation.
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Periodontal Disease: Infections of the gums can lead to bone loss as the supporting structures of teeth deteriorate.
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Dentures/Bridgework: Unanchored dentures or bridges can contribute to bone resorption by not providing direct stimulation to the underlying bone.
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Facial Trauma: Injury or accidents resulting in tooth loss or damage can lead to bone loss if stimulation ceases.
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Misalignment: Teeth misalignment can lead to bone deterioration, particularly if certain teeth lack opposing structures.
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Osteomyelitis: Bacterial infections in the jaw bone can lead to inflammation and reduced blood supply, necessitating bone grafting.
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Tumors: Benign or malignant tumors in the facial region may require removal of jaw bone, often necessitating reconstructive bone grafting.
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Developmental Deformities: Certain birth defects may result in missing portions of the facial bones or jaw, requiring bone grafting for restoration.
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Sinus Deficiencies: Extraction of upper molars can lead to enlarged sinuses and subsequent bone loss, often requiring a sinus lift procedure.
Dr. Dickson can perform bone grafting to address these issues, restoring bone function and promoting new bone growth in affected areas.
Major Bone Grafting
Major bone grafting repairs areas with inadequate bone due to previous extractions, gum disease, or injuries. Bone can be obtained from a tissue bank or taken from the patient’s own jaw, hip, or tibia. Special membranes may be used to protect and encourage bone regeneration. This procedure is commonly performed to repair jaw defects from injuries, tumor surgery, or congenital issues, often requiring a hospital stay and performed in an operating room.
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Virginia Dental Implant Institute Phone Number 540-662-6400 AppointmentsTypes of Bone Grafts:
Bone grafts come in several types, each with its own advantages and considerations:
Autogenous Bone Grafts: These grafts use your own bone, typically harvested from areas like the chin, jaw, leg bone, hip, or skull. They contain living cellular elements that aid in bone growth, but require a second procedure for harvesting, which may not be suitable for everyone.
Allogenic Bone: Harvested from cadavers, allograft bone is processed to remove water and serves as a scaffold for surrounding bone to grow into. While it eliminates the need for a second procedure, it lacks the bone-forming properties of autografts.
Xenogenic Bone: Derived from non-human sources like cows, xenogenic bone also serves as a scaffold for new bone growth. It avoids the need for a second procedure but may take longer for bone regeneration.
Bone Graft Substitutes: Synthetic materials like Demineralized Bone Matrix (DBM), graft composites, and Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) offer alternatives to real bone grafts. They eliminate the need for a second procedure and come in various forms for different applications.
Each option has its own benefits and considerations, and your doctor will help determine the best choice for your situation.