Bone Grafting

Bone grafting procedures restore bone that has been diminished or damaged because of missing teeth, atrophy, periodontal disease or facial injuries and fractures. Many patients who wish to receive dental implants or other tooth replacement treatments require a bone graft to prepare their mouth and preserve the remaining bone in the upper and lower jaw.  

Dr. Nishimoto has extensive surgical training and experience performing a variety of bone grafting procedures. If you want a non-removable solution to restore your missing teeth, or if you want to prevent bone loss after a tooth extract, bone grafting may be a part of your treatment plan. 

Types Of Bone Grafting Procedures

Bone grafting procedures can help prepare your mouth for dental implant placement, preserve the bone after a tooth extraction, or restore facial bone that has been lost or damaged. The type of bone grafting procedure varies from patient to patient, depending on the amount of bone loss that has occurred and the treatment goals. Dr. Nishimoto will determine the type of bone grafting procedure that will provide the best outcome for you.

Socket Preservation
After a tooth is lost or extracted, a bone graft is placed into the empty tooth socket to expedite healing and preserve the site for future implant placement. Once the bone graft has healed and integrated with your jaw bone, a dental implant can be placed to restore the missing tooth site.

Sinus Lift
The sinuses, located on either side of the nose, are just above the upper molars. The bone separating the sinuses from the roots of the upper back molars is often very thin, which can make dental implant placement difficult. To safely place implants in the sinus region, we offer a sinus lift procedure, in which your surgeon will carefully lift the sinus and place a bone graft beneath it. The extra bone thickens the wall between the mouth and the sinus cavity, creating a stable base to secure the dental implants.

Ridge Expansion
Dental implants require a certain height and width of bone for successful placement. If the bone that surrounds and holds the teeth (called the alveolar ridge) has deteriorated too much, your surgeon can perform a ridge expansion to allow for dental implant placement. In a typical ridge expansion procedure, the oral surgeon will divide the bony ridge, then fill the space between the bone segments with bone graft material, resulting in a wider, taller alveolar ridge.

Nerve Repositioning
The nerve that gives feeling to the lower lip and chin (known as the inferior alveolar nerve) runs through the lower jaw. In rare cases, it is impossible to place dental implants or remove teeth without potentially damaging the nerve. To make room for your treatment, our surgeons can make a small opening in the bone to expose the nerve, then move it to the side. A bone graft will then be placed to cover the opening and keep the nerve in place.

Bone Grafting

Dr. Nishimoto is experienced with all types of bone grafting procedures and are highly trained in determining the best bone grafting option that is right for you. If you are missing teeth, experiencing bone loss, curious about dental implant placement, or need an extraction, please contact our office. We look forward to meeting you at your consultation appointment and providing you with the highest quality of care.