Implant Placement Wıth Bone Graft

1. What is a Bone Graft?

A bone graft is a surgical support applied to fill thinning, resorption, or voids that occur in the jawbone over time. It is a procedure that prepares the groundwork for treatment, especially for patients who want to get implants but have been told they have "insufficient bone."

In this procedure, special bone powder or block bone is placed in the deficient area. Your body uses this material as a scaffold and over time produces new, living bone tissue around it. So, a graft is not a prosthesis or implant by itself; it creates the solid foundation to which implant and prosthesis treatments will anchor.

Materials used for bone grafting include:

• Your own bone (autograft)

• Donor human bone (allograft)

• Animal-derived bone (xenograft)

• Synthetic bone materials (alloplast).

The goal is to create a strong, voluminous, and healthy jawbone for you. This way, both implant success increases, and your facial aesthetics, lip support, and prosthesis comfort improve.

In conclusion; a bone graft is like an invisible but fundamental scaffold that carries your treatment. When planned correctly, it provides you with a significant advantage for implants and prostheses that you can use problem-free for many years.

2. Why is a Bone Graft Applied to Teeth?

The main reason for performing a bone graft in dental treatments is to strengthen a weakened jawbone and restore its volume. If the area remains empty for a long time after a tooth extraction, the jawbone naturally begins to resorb. Similarly, advanced gum diseases, trauma, cysts, and infections can also thin the bone tissue.

In this case:

• There may not be sufficient bone thickness for an implant screw,

• Dentures may become loose,

• Sinking and an aged appearance may occur in your facial profile.

At this point, a bone graft intervenes to increase the lost bone volume and make the area suitable again for implants and prostheses. Especially in cases of long-term tooth loss, the graft helps regain support for the lips and cheeks, making the face appear more balanced.

A bone graft performed at an early stage can also slow down larger bone losses that may occur in the future. Therefore, it is not just a "mandatory procedure for implants" but also a preventive treatment aimed at preserving the jawbone.

In conclusion, bone grafting is a frequently used method in dentistry with a strong scientific basis for:

• Increasing the success rate in areas planned for implants,

• Enhancing denture comfort,

• Supporting facial aesthetics.

3. Which Graft Should Be Chosen in Which Situation?

There is no "single best graft" for every patient; the graft most suitable for you is determined based on your jaw structure, the extent of your bone loss, and your general health condition.

• Autograft (your own bone)
  Preferred in cases of large volume bone loss, especially those requiring high-level reconstruction. Since it is your own tissue, it is one of the options with the highest biological compatibility and healing potential. The disadvantage is that it requires a second surgical site.

• Allograft (donor human bone)
  Provides an advantage for patients where a more comfortable and shorter procedure is planned, avoiding an additional surgical site. These are bone bank products that have undergone safe processing. They can often be used alone or combined with your own bone.

• Xenograft (animal-derived bone)
  Usually materials of bovine origin and are strong in providing volume support. They are preferred especially in situations like sinus lifts, large defects, and volume preservation in aesthetic zones. Because its structure is similar to human bone, it serves as a scaffold that supports new bone formation.

• Alloplast (synthetic graft)
  Materials produced in a laboratory, containing hydroxyapatite/phosphate. They can be used in small bone defects, periodontal bone resorption, or together with other grafts. The risk of infection is low.

When deciding;

• Your systemic diseases,

• Smoking habit,

• Planned number of implants and prosthesis type,

• The condition of potential donor sites are all evaluated together. The most accurate choice is a joint decision made with your dentist after radiographic examination and detailed consultation.

4. How is a Dental Bone Graft Performed?

A dental bone graft is a planned surgical procedure that progresses step by step. First, a detailed examination is performed, followed by an assessment of bone thickness, height, and risky anatomical areas using panoramic X-rays and often 3D tomography. This clarifies "where, how much, and what type of graft" will be placed.

On the day of the procedure, the area is numbed with local anesthesia, so you do not feel pain. If necessary, sedation can also be administered to you additionally. Your dentist gently lifts the gum in the area to be grafted to make the jawbone visible.

Then:

• The selected graft material is prepared,

• It is carefully placed into the area with bone loss,

• If needed, a membrane (protective barrier) is placed over it,

• The area is closed with sutures.

After the procedure, you are given:

• Pain medication,

• Antibiotics if necessary,

• Cold compress instructions,

• Clear instructions regarding diet and oral hygiene.

Swelling and mild pain are normal for the first few days. Within an average of several months, the graft biologically integrates with your jawbone. Once this period is complete, the area