As a maxillofacial specialist, Dr. Lawrence Zager with Millennium Park Oral Surgery in Chicago, Illinois has the expertise to replace missing bone as a result of tumors, cysts, impacted teeth, missing teeth, corrective jaw surgery, and for the future placement of dental implants.
There are four types of bone grafts Dr. Zager may use, each defined by the different types of materials used. These are:
For those patients who, for religious or personal reasons, may opt against using their own bone, an alloplast can be a viable option.
The graft is an office surgical procedure done if the jaw bone is not thick enough or the bone tissue is too soft to support the implant. Often patient needs just a small piece of bone to stabilize the jaw. It will take a few months for the new piece of bone to grow into the existing jaw enough to support an implant.
Almost all these grafting procedures can be done in Dr. Zager’s office. For those who require more extensive grafting, Dr. Zager may use distraction osteogenesis, tentpole screws, and biological membranes, and stem cells to encourage new bone growth. Before doing the bone graft, Dr. Zager will discuss the type of grafts available with you and the risks and benefits of each one.