Bone Grafting

In order to qualify for dental implants surgery, patients must have sufficient jawbone density. If you have waited to address a missing tooth, and have experienced some jaw atrophy, Drs. Eugene F. Morris and Armando A. Gama can perform a bone grafting procedure at their Missoula, MT, office to restore candidacy for dental implants. A bone graft involves transplanting healthy bone tissue to restore strength and density to the jaw. Though this treatment can add time and expense to the procedure, patients agree that the incredible benefits of dental implants more than justify the investment. To learn more, contact our office to schedule a consultation.

When is Bone Grafting Necessary?

When a patient experiences tooth loss, the surrounding bone tissue will no longer receive the necessary stimulation to remain healthy and strong. As a result, the bone tissue will atrophy, or shrink. Dental implants are the only restorative treatment that can halt this process. When the significant time has passed after losing a tooth, many patients who seek dental implants surgery will find they do not qualify because they have already lost too much bone tissue. This atrophy can occur more rapidly with age. In these situations, Drs. Morris and Gama can often perform a bone graft procedure to help restore sufficient strength to the jaw and improve a patient's candidacy for implants. After the graft has healed, our surgeons can proceed with implant placement. Once in place, the posts fuse with the jaw over the course of four to six months through a process called osseointegration. After the implants have integrated with the surrounding bone, they will prevent future bone atrophy while providing the ultimate support for your denture, crown, or bridge.

The Bone Graft Procedure

During a bone grafting procedure, your surgeon will administer anesthesia to ensure your absolute comfort throughout treatment. Next, he will create an incision in the gums. With the jaw bone exposed, he will transplant donor tissue to the weakened area and secure it in place with small screws. Finally, the gums are sutured closed to facilitate healing. Patients will be prescribed antibiotics to ensure healthy recovery. Over the course of three to nine months, the transplanted tissue will become fused to the existing jaw bone tissue. In some cases, we can expedite healing with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, a process of administering concentrated growth factors harvested from a sample of the patient's own blood.

Once healing is complete, the jaw should be strong enough to support dental implants. In some cases, we can perform your bone graft on the same day as implants surgery. Dr. Morris or Gama will review the condition of your jawbone to determine the best course of treatment.