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ABOUT BONE GRAFT

A bone graft or bone augmentation may be required for patients who have a soft or thin jaw bone and are having dental implants.

Jaw bone loss is quite common, and can happen for many reasons, including tooth extraction, gum disease or tumors. In a bone graft procedure, the bone is built up again using either artificial bone substitute material, bone from a donor, or bone removed from elsewhere in the patient’s body.

It is often required by patients who are getting dental implants, and is more likely needed if the patient has been without teeth for a long time, and the jawbone has shrunk due to resorption.

Recommended for

  • Patients who need dental implants

TIME REQUIREMENTS

  • Average length of stay abroad: 3 – 5 days.

Patients may need to stay longer if they are having a bone graft from the hip bone. A longer stay may also be required for cases where the sinus is affected.

A bone graft procedure is often performed on patients who require dental implants.

COMPARE BONE GRAFT PRICES AROUND THE WORLD

Country Cost
Ireland 800€
United Kingdom 300€
Spain 280€
Croatia 250€
Thailand 208€
Costa Rica 179€
Hungary 150€
Poland 141€
Mexico 135€

HOW TO FIND QUALITY TREATMENT ABROAD

Every year, close to 14 million patients travel worldwide for the purpose of receiving medical care. At Intclinics, we provide our patients with access to the top clinics and doctors around the world. To discover where the best Bone Graft clinics are for you, search on Intclinics for treatments all around the world.
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BEFORE BONE GRAFT ABROAD

In cases which need more material owing to more extensive bone recession, an appointment may be needed to source the graft material (this can be done from elsewhere in the mouth, or from donor sites such as the hip bone). Otherwise, the bone sourcing and grafting can be done in the same appointment.

In some cases, the bone graft will be performed at the same time as a tooth extraction, which can prevent bone resorption from occurring.

HOW IS IT PERFORMED

There are different types of bone grafts which can be used and the most common types are autogenous grafts, allograft grafts, and xenograft grafts. An autogenous graft (autograft) is bone that is taken from another area of the patient’s body such as the chin or hip. As the bone is taken from the patient’s body, it contains live cells which promote growth and bone formation, which is why it is considered a very successful method and is the most used technique. An allograft is usually taken from a cadaver and combined with synthetic material. It can also promote growth and bone formation. A xenograft uses bone from animals such bovine or porcine bone.

The type of bone graft used should be discussed with the dentist before the surgery in order to determine the best option for the patient. Once this has been established, the procedure will go ahead with the agreed type of bone graft. If having an autogenous graft, then the bone will need to be removed from another area of the body first, before proceeding.

At the tooth extract site, the bone graft material is added to the area and left to heal. For more recessed jawbones, material is added and then a tarp is placed over the site to prevent infection and give the area time to heal. Alternatively, solid bone material is fixed to the area (eg. with screws) and the fixing material is removed at a later appointment.

Materials

A range of materials are suitable for this procedure. In some cases, the patient’s own bone tissue is used, or else tissue from a donor. It is also possible to use entirely synthetic products for this procedure.

Anesthesia

Local anesthetic.

Procedure duration

The Bone Graft takes 1 to 3 hours.

The bone graft procedure may take several hours, depending on the method used and the extent of bone loss. The dentist may also ask that the patient return after a few days to check the gum is healing and to remove stitches.

The surgeon reshapes the nose into the desired shape or size.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER BONE GRAFT

Post procedure care

The gums will be stitched up and patients should keep the surgery site clean and only eat certain foods (avoid very hot or cold foods, or foods that may get stuck in the wound). The new bone may be left for several months to integrate, although some dentists will add a bone graft and implants together.

Possible discomfort

Bone graft patients can expect to experience tenderness and soreness in the area, to a similar degree as tooth extraction patients.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT BONE GRAFT

Potential risks

  • Immune system reaction

  • Bone graft rejection
  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Swelling
  • Damage to surrounding structures
  • Sinus damage

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If your dental professional recommends a bone graft, it is likely because you have lost significant bone density. The bone is not likely to recover on its own and will continue to be a problem for the rest of your life. Dental implants need to be supported by the bone, therefore if there is significant bone loss, a bone graft is necessary before the dental implants can be inserted.

During the procedure, anesthesia will be used to control your pain and discomfort. You shouldn’t feel any pain during the procedure. Afterward, there may be some mild aching in the affected areas that will go away within a few days. Your doctor will prescribe a pain medication if necessary.

The length of time will vary based on a number of factors, but the graft will need several weeks to osseointegrate completely.

The grafting material might come from a number of sources. Autologous bone grafting uses a small amount of bone taken from your own body. Allografted bone comes from a donor other than you, but is still human bone. Xenografted bone comes from animals, usually cows. Finally, some dentists prefer to use artificial bone, which can be made of a number of different materials. Some grafts also contain growth factors which help the bone osseointegrate.

Augmenting the jawbone is necessary for some dental implant patients because of deterioration of the bone. When a tooth is missing, less blood flows to that area of the jawbone, which then degenerates over time. If a lot of bone is lost, there will not be enough to anchor the dental implant. Poor osseointegrtion is the number one cause of dental implant failure. The bone graft is necessary to make the jawbone strong enough to hold the implant.

2023-07-13T23:10:38+00:00