Bone Grafting in Henderson, NV

When tooth loss, facial injuries, or other issues cause bone loss (also called resorption), bone grafting can restore areas that are lacking in quality or quantity of bone. Patients who want to receive dental implants may need a bone grafting procedure to make sure there is enough room for a secure hold. A bone graft can also treat certain jaw defects left from past surgeries or injuries. No matter which bone augmentation procedure you need, our practice can help you restore both the structure and appearance of your jaw.

Bone Grafting Procedures

Most bone grafting procedures work in essentially the same way: bone graft material is taken either from the bone in your body or a tissue bank, and we place the material in areas that are lacking in bone density. The bone graft material consists of tiny granules of bone suspended in a gel that is rich in natural growth factors. These growth factors promote healing and allow your body to restore the lost bone.

The type of bone grafting procedure you receive will depend on your condition and the location of the bone loss. Some of the most common bone grafting procedures oral surgeons perform include the following:

Socket preservation prevents rapid bone loss from occurring around an empty tooth socket. After a tooth extraction, bone graft material can be placed into the empty socket to prepare the patient for a dental implant procedure at a later date.
Sinus lifts make space for dental implants to replace your upper back teeth. The sinuses are hollow cavities that reside behind your cheeks and above your upper teeth on either side of your nose. The wall that separates the sinuses from your upper teeth can be quite thin, making a safe dental implant procedure impossible. By lifting the sinus and placing a bone graft beneath it, your surgeon can make room for a safe and secure dental implant.
Ridge expansion widens the bony ridge that holds all of your teeth in place. When tooth loss occurs, this bone can become too thin to hold dental implants. Ridge expansions increase the amount of bone around the alveolar ridge to make space for your dental implants.
Nerve repositioning is a less common procedure that is sometimes used to prevent nerve damage. The inferior alveolar nerve, which gives sensation to the chin and lower jaw, lies beneath your lower molars. If the bone above the nerve is too sparse, there may not be enough room to place a dental implant without damaging this nerve. Your oral surgeon may be able to move this nerve aside using a unique bone graft procedure, but touching this nerve can be risky, so we make every attempt to avoid repositioning unless necessary.

Major bone grafting involves more extensive facial repairs, such as guided bone regeneration or guided tissue regeneration. Usually, major grafting procedures are used to restore injury sites, facial defects, or areas of bone that were removed during tumor surgery.