What is Bone Grafting and GBR?

Bone grafting is the process of replacing missing bone with a material called a bone graft. This material known as bone graft isn’t just to replace missing bone, but it also helps your body regrow lost bone. This new bone growth strengthens the grafted area by forming a bridge between your existing bone and the graft. Over time newly formed bone will replace most of the grafted material. GBR is when a membrane is placed over the bone graft site to help further encourage new bone to grow and prevent growth of scar tissue.

Why is Bone Grafting and GBR needed?

There are many things that can lead to loss of bone volume such as gum disease, trauma, infection, or tooth extraction. Over time, the bone can collapse which will give a sunken appearance along the jaw and cheeks.

If you do not have strong bone support, Dental Implants wouldn’t be successful as it wouldn’t have the solid foundation necessary to keep it in place. A solution would be using Bone Grafting and GBR to rebuild the bone needed to provide that solid foundation.

How are Bone Grafting and GBR procedures performed?

The procedures for Bone Grafting and GBR are fairly straightforward. They involve the bone being grafted to the treatment site, and then covered by a biologically compatible membrane to protect against oral tissues; thus promoting natural growth of new bone in the end. While the dental bone grafting procedure takes place over a period of four to six months, this setting of the table is a necessary action to ensure the long-term success of any dental implant that is to take place down the road.

This process will require several months to heal before Dental Implants can be placed as they heavily depend on a solid foundation.