What Is a Bone Graft?
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure where Dr. K Ashraf uses a small piece of bone from another area of your body (e.g., the ankle, wrist, or hip) to encourage new bone to grow in a deficient area.
During a bone graft, Dr. K Ashraf will insert the new piece of bone into the place where the healthier bone is needed. The cells of the new bone will fuse with the old bone, creating a strong foundation for any dental treatment.
Why are Bone Grafts Necessary?
Bone grafts are crucial because they allow patients with weak, low-density jawbones to get the treatment they need.
There are many reasons why your jawbone might not have sufficient mass. For example, when you lose a tooth, that area of the jawbone that was supporting it loses stimulation and causes the jawbone to deteriorate. Without a strong, healthy jawbone, the chance of successful dental implant treatment is very low.
The Benefits of a Bone Graft
Typically, bone grafting is completed in two appointments. During your first visit, Dr. K Ashraf will remove the bone that’s used for the graft. In your second visit, he’ll transplant the new bone onto the old bone.
While bone grafting may sound intimidating, it can be beneficial when:
- The aesthetics of your smile are affected by bone loss
- Bone must be rebuilt to its original form for dental implant treatment
- Tooth removal has caused the need for added bone structure
Bone grafting is an exceptional way to improve the health of your smile — teeth, gums, and jawbone.
Bone Graft Recovery with PRP
Dr. K Ashraf uses bone grafting to transplant new bone to a weakened area of hard tissue in your smile. While the healing process can take anywhere between three and six months to grow sufficient bone mass, he can use PRP (platelet-rich plasma) to expedite the process.
During the bone graft procedure, Dr. K Ashraf will remove a small sample of your blood. After spinning the sample in a specially calibrated centrifuge, he’ll collect the PRP from the separated blood components before flattening and configuring it into a membrane. The membrane configuration is ideal for bone grafting procedures because it can cover a large surgical area, and it’ll hold the bone grafting material in place.
PRP encourages clotting and uses your growth factors — which increase the speed and quality of healing — to strengthen the surgical site. With PRP, we can reduce the time it takes for your body’s natural healing response to start. Before you know it, you’ll be eating your favorite foods with a fully restored jawbone, and you’ll be ready for any dental procedure.