Bone Grafting in Cromwell, CT
Regardless of the cause, losing a tooth can lead to bone loss in your jaw. At Unicorn Dental Group, bone grafting helps rebuild that foundation so future treatment, like dental implants, can succeed.
Request an AppointmentTeeth stimulate the jawbone, so when one or more are missing, the bone in that area begins to deteriorate over time. Eventually, enough bone loss can occur that dental implants won’t hold securely. When this happens, we may recommend bone grafting to rebuild the missing bone in your jaw.
Types of Bone Grafts
There are three main types of bone grafts: autogenous, allograft, and xenograft.
Autogenous grafts use bone from another part of your own body, usually a non-essential area like the chin, reducing the chance of rejection and infection since it’s your own living tissue. Allografts use human bone from cadavers donated to bone banks, tested rigorously before use to ensure safety. Xenografts use bone from another source, most commonly cow bone. The benefit of allografts and xenografts is that patients avoid a second surgery to harvest their own bone, and both sources are readily available.
What to Expect During the Procedure
We use local anesthesia to numb both the donor site, if applicable, and the area in your mouth where the graft is needed. An incision is made in the gums so we can determine exactly how much bone is required. If harvesting from the chin, a separate incision exposes the area so we can remove the bone and marrow needed, then close the site with stitches. The graft is placed and secured with titanium screws, often combined with bone marrow and grafting material to support healing, before the incision is closed.
Recovery and Next Steps
After receiving a bone graft, you’ll go home with antibiotics and pain medication, and you may need to eat soft foods like pasta and gelatin while your mouth heals. Complete healing typically takes six to nine months, at which point we can place your dental implants.
Don’t hesitate to contact us at (860) 635-3993 with any questions about bone grafting.
Why would I need a bone graft before getting implants?
If jawbone has deteriorated after tooth loss, a bone graft rebuilds the foundation needed to support a dental implant securely.
What are the different types of bone grafts?
The three main types are autogenous (from your own body), allograft (from a donor bone bank), and xenograft (typically from cow bone).
Is bone grafting painful?
Local anesthesia is used to numb the treatment areas, and pain medication is provided afterward to manage any discomfort during healing.
How long does it take to heal from a bone graft?
Complete healing typically takes six to nine months before dental implants can be placed.
What can I eat after a bone graft?
Soft foods like pasta and gelatin are recommended while your mouth heals from the procedure.