There are three types of bone grafts available:
- Autogenous
- Allograft
- Xenograft
Obtaining Donor Tissue for Your Dental Bone Graft in Easton, MD
Autogenous grafts utilize tissue donated from the patient’s own body. Allograft donor tissue is obtained from a bone bank while xenograft tissue is derived from a bovine source. While autogenous grafts are more commonly performed, allografts and xenografts can be advantageous when a patient requires a large amount of donor tissue or should not, for medical reasons, be subjected to a second surgical site for the collection of tissue.
Bone Grafting to Prepare for Dental Implants
When Dr. Louis performs an autogenous graft, he numbs the surgical areas with a local anesthetic and makes an incision at the treatment site. Once he has assessed the amount of bone needed, he will collect the necessary tissue from the donation site. Donor tissue is typically harvested from the chin bone which is accessed from inside the mouth, under the front teeth. Dr. Louis will collect bone and marrow and transfer this tissue to the treatment site. The bone is held in place with titanium screws, ensuring that it remains in an ideal position while it heals and fuses with the existing tissue. Both surgical sites are sutured closed.
The integration process for bone grafting can take six to nine months. If you are having teeth replaced with dental implants, Dr. Louis can schedule your dental implant surgery after your grafts have healed. For more information on receiving a dental bone graft in Easton, MD, contact our office today.