Will I lose my dentures during dental bone grafting?

Before answering this question, it is necessary to explain that there are different dental bone grafting techniques, each with its own complexity and extent. This directly influences the guidelines for the post-operative period and recovery time.

Learn all about bone grafting with implants

In most cases it is possible to use a prosthesis while the graft heals

Dental bone grafting to allow the placement of just one implant, where the patient has teeth to be used as support for the prosthesis, is not the same as block grafting to place several implants in a full arch, which is considered more complex.

However, in many cases, it is possible to attach a temporary resin prosthesis, which is suitable for helping the tooth graft recover and heal, as well as allowing the patient not to be without teeth for the duration of the treatment.

After the recovery period, the temporary prosthesis is replaced by a permanent prosthesis made from the material chosen jointly by the patient and the dentist (resin, metal-ceramic or fully esthetic zirconia).

Read about graftless implants

Types of tooth graft

Particulate Graft

Particulate grafting is used in small reconstructions, such as filling in a site where there has been bone loss or in the maxillary sinus lift technique. The biomaterials used in particulate bone grafting are implanted to replace or repair atrophied tissue.

They can be of natural origin (a small amount of crushed human bone from the patient themselves or from a tissue bank for transplants, or freeze-dried bovine bone powder).

The particulate graft can also be made of synthetic material produced in the laboratory, fully biocompatible with osteoconductive properties (attraction of bone tissue-forming cells) or synthetic vitreous materials (synthetic hydroxyapatite).

The particulate dental graft is deposited in situ and then covered with a collagen membrane. In favorable cases, the dental implant can be placed on the same day as the graft, followed by a temporary prosthesis.

Block Grafting

This technique is indicated for more extensive reconstructions. The block-shaped tooth graft can be taken from another part of the patient’s body. When only one block is needed, it can be taken from the mandible.

When more blocks are needed, they can be taken from the pelvis or skullcap. None of the donor sites suffer from bone loss. The blocks are fixed in the jawbone with titanium screws and will thus allow more dental implants to be placed.

The possibility of using a prosthesis in this type of graft is therefore assessed on a case-by-case basis. The ImplArtDental Clinic has extensive experience in dental bone grafting techniques.

If you have any questions, please contact us or book an appointment.