When you lose a tooth because of tooth decay, trauma to the mouth, or gum disease, you may experience some bone loss around the area where the tooth is missing. Over time, the jaw can deteriorate to a point that there is not enough bone available to place dental implants. In this situation, Dr. Trujillo may recommend a bone graft.

Bone grafts replace or increase the amount of missing bone around the teeth and in areas where the teeth have been lost. They may be necessary before a dental implant procedure. The three types of bone grafts are: autogenous grafts, allografts, and xenografts.

Autogenous grafts – These grafts involve transplanting bone from an area of the body, such as the chin, to the mouth.

Allografts - The transplanted materials are from cadaver bone donated to bone banks. This material is screened for safety.

Xenografts – These replace bone in the treatment area with a sample from a bovine or cow, and are often preferred to augment bone before a dental implant procedure due to the large quantity available.

Bone grafting or augmentation has helped many patients become candidates for dental implants in Merced, CA. If you are interested in receiving dental implants and need more information about bone grafting procedures, schedule a consultation with Dr. Trujillo today!