Bone Grafting in Austintown and Boardman, OH

Bone grafting is used to preserve or rebuild areas of the jaw where bone has been lost because of missing teeth, gum disease, infection, injury, or another condition. At Mill Creek Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates, Dr. Mark L. Billy, Dr. Craig A. Wagley, and Dr. Neilson L. Wagley provide bone-grafting procedures in Austintown and Boardman, Ohio.

Bone grafting can restore jawbone health and, when appropriate, create a stable foundation for dental implants.

What Is Dental Bone Grafting?

A dental bone graft is a surgical procedure that places grafting material in an area where the jawbone has deteriorated or is insufficient. The graft provides a framework that supports the formation and remodeling of new bone. After the area heals, the restored bone may be able to support a dental implant or another form of oral rehabilitation.

Bone grafting can range from preserving a single tooth socket after an extraction to rebuilding a larger section of the upper or lower jaw. The recommended approach depends on the location and extent of the bone loss, your oral health, and the treatment planned after grafting.

When Is Bone Grafting Necessary?

The roots of natural teeth stimulate the surrounding jawbone. After a tooth is removed or lost, that stimulation disappears, and the bone may gradually shrink or resorb. This can reduce the height, width, or density of the jawbone and make future dental implant placement more difficult.

Bone grafting may be recommended to:

• Preserve the jawbone after a tooth extraction
• Rebuild bone that has deteriorated following prolonged tooth loss
• Create sufficient bone height or width for dental implant placement
• Repair bone loss caused by periodontal disease or infection
• Reconstruct an area damaged by facial trauma or previous surgery
• Restore a jaw defect associated with a developmental or pathological condition
• Improve support for dentures or another dental restoration

Patients with insufficient jawbone may not be immediate candidates for dental implants. However, bone grafting can make implant treatment possible for many patients once the graft has healed.

What Are the Effects of Jawbone Loss?

The effects of jawbone loss vary according to its location and severity. Progressive bone loss may contribute to:

• Changes in facial contours
• Movement or instability of neighboring teeth
• Difficulty replacing missing teeth with dental implants
• Poorly fitting or unstable dentures
• Changes in chewing or speaking
• Reduced support for the lips and cheeks
• Additional oral health concerns in the affected area

Early evaluation can help determine whether the remaining bone should be preserved or rebuilt before additional deterioration occurs.

Types of Bone-Grafting Procedures

The recommended procedure will depend on where bone is needed, how much reconstruction is required, and whether a dental implant is planned.

Socket Preservation

Socket preservation places grafting material into the empty socket immediately following or shortly after a tooth extraction. This can help minimize changes in the height and width of the jawbone and preserve the area for a possible future dental implant.

Ridge Augmentation

A ridge augmentation rebuilds the portion of the jaw that supports the teeth. It may be recommended when bone loss has left the ridge too narrow, uneven, or otherwise insufficient to support an implant or an optimal dental restoration.

Sinus Lift

A sinus lift, also called sinus augmentation, adds bone to the back of the upper jaw beneath the sinus membrane. It may be necessary when there is not enough bone height to support implants in the upper premolar or molar region.

Major Bone Grafting

Major bone grafting is used to reconstruct larger defects of the upper or lower jaw. These defects may result from traumatic injuries, tumor surgery, developmental conditions, infection, or previous treatment.

Larger defects may be repaired using bone obtained from the patient. Depending on the amount required, potential donor sites can include areas within the jaw or other parts of the body. More extensive procedures may be performed in an operating-room or hospital setting. Your surgeon will explain whether major grafting is necessary and what the procedure will involve.

Where Does Bone Graft Material Come From?

Bone graft material can come from several sources. The material selected depends on the location and size of the graft, the patient’s health, and the goals of treatment.

• Autograft: Bone obtained from another area of the patient’s own body, often from within the jaw for smaller grafts
• Allograft: Carefully processed human donor bone obtained from a tissue bank
• Xenograft: Processed bone material derived from an animal source
• Alloplast: A biocompatible synthetic bone-grafting material

Autografts require an additional surgical site because the bone is obtained from the patient. Allografts, xenografts, and synthetic materials can provide a framework that supports new bone formation without requiring a second bone-harvesting site.

Your oral surgeon will recommend a grafting material based on the amount of bone required, the planned procedure, your health history, and the intended treatment outcome.

What Are Bone-Graft Substitutes?

Several biocompatible materials may be used as alternatives or supplements to traditional bone grafts. These options include demineralized bone matrix, graft composites, synthetic materials, and biologic products that support bone formation.

Bone morphogenetic proteins, commonly called BMPs, are naturally occurring proteins involved in bone formation and healing. In selected cases, a manufactured form of BMP may be used to support new bone growth and reduce the amount of bone that needs to be harvested from another area of the patient’s body.

Platelet-rich plasma may also be used in certain procedures to provide concentrated components from the patient’s own blood that support the natural healing process.

What Happens During a Bone-Grafting Procedure?

Your treatment begins with a consultation and examination. Diagnostic imaging, including cone beam CT and 3D imaging when appropriate, allows your surgeon to evaluate the amount and shape of the available jawbone and plan the procedure.

During surgery, the treatment area is accessed and prepared before the grafting material is placed. A membrane or another stabilizing material may be used to protect the graft and support guided bone regeneration. The gum tissue is then repositioned and closed with sutures.

Depending on the procedure and your individual needs, treatment may be completed with local anesthesia, IV sedation, or another appropriate anesthesia option. Your surgeon will explain how to prepare for treatment and what to expect during recovery.

How Long Does a Dental Bone Graft Take to Heal?

Initial gum-tissue healing generally occurs before the underlying bone has fully developed and matured. Complete bone-graft healing commonly takes several months, although the timeline varies from patient to patient.

Factors that can affect healing include:

• The size and location of the graft
• The grafting material and technique used
• Whether an implant was placed during the same procedure
• The patient’s overall health and natural healing response
• Smoking or tobacco use
• Oral hygiene and adherence to postoperative instructions

Your surgeon will monitor your progress and determine when the graft is ready to support the next phase of treatment.

Who Is a Candidate for Bone Grafting?

You may be a candidate for bone grafting if you have insufficient jawbone to support a dental implant, need to preserve bone after an extraction, or have experienced bone loss because of periodontal disease, infection, injury, or another condition.

Candidacy can only be confirmed after a clinical evaluation and review of your diagnostic images. Smoking, uncontrolled medical conditions, active infection, certain medications, and untreated gum disease can affect healing. Be sure to discuss your complete health history and any medications or supplements with your surgeon.

Why Choose an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon for Bone Grafting?

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons receive specialized surgical training in diagnosing and treating conditions involving the mouth, teeth, jaws, and facial structures. This training includes bone reconstruction, dental implant surgery, anesthesia, and the management of complex oral surgical needs.

Dr. Billy, Dr. Craig Wagley, and Dr. Neilson Wagley use clinical examinations and detailed imaging to determine whether grafting is necessary and which technique can best support each patient’s long-term oral health and treatment goals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bone Grafting

Is a bone graft always required before a dental implant?

No. A bone graft is only recommended when the available jawbone cannot adequately support an implant or when preserving the bone is expected to improve the treatment outcome. Some patients have sufficient healthy bone for implant placement without grafting.

Can a bone graft and dental implant be placed at the same time?

Sometimes. A smaller area may be grafted when the implant is placed. If more extensive reconstruction is required, the graft will generally need to heal before implant surgery. Your surgeon will determine the safest and most appropriate treatment sequence.

Does bone graft material become part of the jaw?

Bone-grafting material generally acts as a framework that supports the formation and remodeling of the patient’s own bone. How the graft changes during healing depends on the material and technique used.

How long after a bone graft can I receive a dental implant?

Healing commonly requires several months, but there is no single timeline for every patient. Your surgeon will use follow-up examinations and diagnostic imaging when necessary to determine when the area is ready for implant placement.

What can interfere with bone-graft healing?

Smoking, poor oral hygiene, infection, uncontrolled health conditions, certain medications, and failure to follow postoperative instructions can interfere with healing. Your surgeon will discuss any personal risk factors during your consultation.

Learn More About Bone Grafting

Explore these related resources to learn more about the grafting procedures available at Mill Creek Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates:

• Socket Preservation After Tooth Extraction
• Ridge Augmentation
• Sinus Lift and Sinus Augmentation
• Bone Morphogenetic Protein
• Platelet-Rich Plasma
• Dental Implant Surgery

Schedule a Bone-Grafting Consultation in Austintown or Boardman

If you have been told that you lack sufficient jawbone for dental implants or want to preserve bone following an extraction, schedule an evaluation with Mill Creek Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates.

Patients can visit our Austintown office or Boardman office. The practice serves patients from Austintown, Boardman, Youngstown, Canfield, Poland, Warren, Niles, Howland, Columbiana, and surrounding Ohio communities.

Call the Austintown office at 330-792-2501, call the Boardman office at 330-758-6757, or request an appointment online.

In Need of a Bone Graft?

Dr. Billy, Dr. Craig Wagley, and Dr. Neilson Wagley can use bone grafting to rebuild areas of the jaw, improve support for dental implants, and repair certain jaw defects. Contact us today to discuss your treatment options.