What Are Bone Grafts, and Are They Painful?

The scenario: you are visiting your local Keene, New Hampshire dentist and the doctor has just told you that you do not have a sufficient healthy jawbone to support a dental implant. While you may think this means you must settle for another tooth replacement option, like a dental bridge or denture, that is not the case.

Drs. Tae Kwon and Rahul Tase of Monadnock Perio and Implant Center would like to tell you about bone grafting. When you experience jawbone deterioration, a bone graft can help restore your jawbone to support dental implants. They are the board certified periodontists who “specialize” in the bone grafting (simple or complex), sinus lift, dental implant surgery and dental implant complications. 

What Is a Bone Graft?

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that can repair and rebuild a jawbone that has been badly damaged or deteriorated. This is accomplished by transplanting healthy bone tissue to the jaw. The addition of healthy bone tissue stimulates the growth of a strong jawbone.

Why Would You Need a Bone Graft?

Bone grafting can be a suitable solution for instances like:

• Dental implants: If you are looking to get a dental implant to replace a missing tooth, but you either lack sufficient jawbone or the jawbone in place is not healthy or strong, then a bone graft could be necessary to build a solid base which can support a new dental implant
• Tooth loss: When you lose a tooth, the jawbone can begin to deteriorate as time goes on. This happens because the stimulation provided by the missing tooth’s root is no longer present. When this happens, a bone graft is a way to rebuild your jawbone
• Gum disease: If gum disease is allowed to progress to advanced stages, it can result in damage to the jawbone. A bone graft will restore the health of the jaw
• Facial muscles: If you have a weak jawbone, your facial muscles can begin to collapse, leading to an appearance that is saggy, wrinkled, and aged

Types of Bone Grafting

There are a few different options for where healthy bone material can come from for a bone graft:

• Autograft: When the bone matter for your graft comes from another area of your body
• Allograft: When the bone matter for your graft is taken from a healthy human donor

While more uncommon, grafting material can be taken from animals like cows or pigs or synthetic material like calcium phosphate.

Is A Bone Graft Painful?

Because anesthesia will be used, a bone graft is not painful at all. However, as the anesthesia wears off, there could be some discomfort, swelling, and bleeding following the procedure. Drs. Kwon and Tase may prescribe you pain medication or recommend an over-the-counter option for pain management. The procedure should take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. If the bone graft is coming from your own body, it could take longer as this would require two surgeries – one to remove bone and one to place it in your jaw.

If you would like to learn more about bone grafts, please reach out to our Keene, New Hampshire, office today at (603) 215-5800. Our team here at Monadnock Perio and Implant Center looks forward to seeing you!