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Learn more about dental bone graft surgery in simple words
Certain dental and gum diseases cause the loss of dental bones. These bones provide structural support for teeth and dental implants. To restore the dental bones, a simple procedure is performed which is called dental bone graft surgery. What does the procedure entail and who is an ideal candidate for it? Let us take a look.
Dental Bone Graft Procedure
- Bone grafting is a surgical procedure in which bone from one part of the body is transplanted to repair a damaged bone. This procedure can be performed for any part of the body that may have suffered from bone damage. When the injury is not too severe, bones can repair on their own. But when the damage is beyond repair, bone grafting is needed. The rationale behind bone grafting is that the healthy bone cells from the transplanted bone can begin the healing process of the damaged bone.
For dental bone grafting, a healthy bone can be taken from the hips, ribs, or legs and placed inside the mouth. This process is called autograft. Autograft is the preferred way of performing bone grafting because it supports faster healing of the damaged bone. Apart from that, sometimes surgeons take the donor bone from a cadaver as well.
- The donor’s bone is inserted into the mouth where the dental bone has been damaged beyond repair. Once inserted, the healthy bone cells start the healing process and seal themselves to the old bone. This way, the damaged bone is repaired. This procedure is performed by a skilled surgeon.
The gradual loss of dental bone occurs when either the teeth or the gums have been damaged and lost due to some disease. Dental bone is needed to place dental implants and to save the loss of more dental bone.
Types of Dental Bone Grafts
On the basis of the source of material for dental bones, the bone grating can be divided into the following types:
- Autografts: The donor’s bone is taken from your own body i.e. from hips or jaws.
- Allografts: donor’s bone is taken from a cadaver.
- Xenografts: source of donor’s bone is another species such as cow, coral, or pig.
- Alloplasts: synthetic materials such as calcium phosphate or calcium sodium phosphate are used for donor’s bone.
What is The Level of Pain Experienced During and After This Process?
- The level of pain experienced during and after the bone grafting surgery depends on the type of dental graft surgery. During the procedure, the patient is sedated with anesthesia so he won’t feel any pain. After the procedure is over, the patient will experience moderate pain at the site of surgery. Over-the-counter medicines are effective in pain management, post-surgery.
For autografts, in which the donor’s bone is extracted from the patient’s own body (usually the hip), the process can be more painful and can take longer to recover, as the surgery is performed at two different parts of the body. Discomfort and pain may continue for a few weeks. For the pain management of autografts surgery, prescription-strength medicines are recommended.
How Much Does Dental Bone Graft Surgery Cost?
- The cost of dental bone graft surgery is determined by the complexity of the procedure and the type of surgery performed. Autografts are the most expensive surgery. The procedure can cost $2,000 or higher. For allografts, xenografts, and alloplasts, the cost can vary between $400 to $1200.
Bone graft surgery should always be administered by a skilled dental professional. Icon Dental Center provides top-notch dental bone graft services. We have offices in Seattle, Everett, and nearby areas. Contact us now.