At our dental implant clinic in St. Catharines, we want to help our patients to be informed on our dental procedures including dental bone grafting. As we lose teeth, the bone of the jaw resorbs (shrinks) over time. In order to place dental implants, the bone quantity needs to be adequate in order to place a proper size implant in the correct position. When the bone is not sufficient, bone grafting techniques may be used to restore the bone in order to place the implants. After a dental extraction, a bone graft material may be used to help regenerate bone in the extraction socket in order to prepare the bone for a dental implant. Typically four to five months time is required for the bone to harden (consolidate).

Sinus Lift Procedure (sinus floor bone grafting)

Our sinuses are often large and empty and occupy a significant amount of space in our upper jaw. If they are very large, an inadequate amount of bone is available to place dental implants. A Sinus lift is a bone graft procedure to increase the amount of bone in the molar regions of the upper jaw. Dental Implants are often inserted at the same time the sinus lift is performed. This allows the dental implant to fuse (integrate) while the bone graft is hardening (consolidating). Putty Cadaver bone is used along with Bovine collagen membrane to perform this procedure. If the bone is extremely thin, the sinus lift needs to be performed on its own followed by implant insertion 4 to 5 months later. This obviously increases the overall treatment time.

Cadaver Bone

Also called Allogenic Bone. This is a safe and effective form of bone grafting. This prevents the surgeon from harvesting the bone from the patient whereby reducing pain and suffering. This bone is resorbed by the body and new bone is formed in its place. The Cadaver bone has a special protein (Bone Morphogenic Protein) that induces new bone formation when used in an extraction socket OR in a Sinus Lift.

Bovine Bone

Bovine (cow) bone is a safe and very effective material for bone grafting with dental implants. This material allows the body to form new bone around it, but also offers the advantage of stability and resistance to resorption. This bovine material is often used for grafting of bony defects prior to implant insertion. It is used often with a non-resorbable membrane or collagen membranes to contain and protect the graft from the oral environment. Dr. Vigna uses this material frequently to reconstruct bony defects and to regenerate bone in extraction sockets. This bovine material is sterilized by the manufacturer and contains no cellular elements. This eliminates the risk of disease.

Phone us for more information on dental bone grafting in St. Catharines