Where does bone grafting material for dental implants come from?

Where does bone grafting material for dental implants come from?

bone grafting North OklahomaIn the past, patients could only receive dental implants if they had enough bone mass to support their titanium posts. Fortunately, bone grafting has opened up the potential for many folks to become better candidates for dental implants. Our oral surgeon provides bone grafting services to help patients achieve healthy bone mass and increased oral function after receiving dental implants.

There are two major sources for bone grafting material: a person’s body (autograft) and tissue banks (allograft). Following is some helpful information on source material for bone grafts.

Autograft Bone Tissue

Autograft bone tissue is sourced from a patient’s body. Requiring another procedure to access the bone, hard tissue is taken from an area of the body where there is excess bone. Common sources for autograft bone are the chin, knee, hip, and tibia (the shin). This bone is then transplanted to the implantation site. When autograft bone is used, it contains the patient’s own cells. This is beneficial because a patient’s own cellular material will not present risks for disease transmission. As far as disadvantages with autograft sources go, it does require an additional procedure and some people may not have enough harvestable bone.

Allograft Bone Graft

Allograft bone is sourced from a tissue bank via an organ donor. After the tissue is donated, it is processed and handled with strict safety protocols to help ensure that the bone is safe for surgical use. Allograft tissue is useful because it is accessible to patients without the need for an additional surgery. It is also beneficial for people whose bone is not easily harvestable.

Choosing What’s Right For You

If our team determines that you need bone grafting prior to receiving a dental implant, we will help you navigate your options and choose which tissue source is best for your unique needs. We believe in empowering patients with factual information so that they can make informed decisions about their health and treatment.

To schedule a consultation with one of our skilled oral surgeons, call our practice at your convenience.