A dental bone graft adds volume and density to your jaw in areas
where bone loss has occurred. The bone graft material may be
taken from your own body (autogenous), or it may be purchased
from a human tissue bank (allograft) or an animal tissue bank
(xenograft).in some instances, the bone graft material may be
synthetic (alloplast).
Who needs a bone graft?
A person with bone loss in their jaw usually needs a dental bone graft. This
procedure may be recommended if you:
● Are having a tooth extracted.
● Plan to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant.
● Need to rebuild the jaw before getting dentures.
● Have areas of bone loss due to gum (periodontal) disease.
What are the side effects of a dental bone
graft?
The most common side effects of a dental bone graft are pain and
swelling.
But these can be kept to a minimum with ice packs and over-thecounter pain relievers. Prescription-strength medications may be
necessary for some people.
Other normal side effects include minor bleeding and difficulty
chewing and speaking for the first few days.
Though this procedure is usually safe and well tolerated, there are
always risks.
Infection is a concern with any surgical procedure, so it’s extremely
important to take the full course of antibiotics. Other unusual (but
serious) potential side effects include:
● blood clots
● nerve damage
● anesthesia complications
● rejection of the bone graft
What are the advantages of dental bone
grafts?
Dental bone grafts can increase your eligibility for dental implants and
other restorative treatments. This procedure restores your jaw to its
original form following trauma, tooth loss or gum (periodontal) disease.
Aftercare for Dental Bone Graft
Procedure
prevent infection
Patients should take pain medication within a couple of hours after the
procedure, before the anesthesia wears off. If you do not want to take the
prescribed meds, an over-the-counter pain reliever should be adequate. After
the initial dose, continue to use the medication at regular intervals for the first
two or three days. If antibiotics were prescribed, this will help prevent infection
of the area. Make sure you take them until they are all gone, and keep in mind
that antibiotics can interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills.
Control bleeding and swelling
Some bleeding is normal the first day or two after the surgery. Place a tea bag or
damp gauze pad over the bleeding area and bite down continuously and firmly
for 20 to 30 minutes. If you experience swelling, apply an ice pack on the site of
the surgery at 20-minute intervals for the first 24 to 48 hours. Eating or drinking
cold items, such as ice cream, cold drinks and ice cubes, will also minimize
swelling and provide comfort.
Practice good oral hygiene
While practicing oral hygiene is important, you should not floss or brush the
surgical area, and you should practice very gentle brushing of the surrounding
teeth. Follow these instructions until the area has healed and the dentist says it
is OK to start brushing and flossing normally.
Starting the day after surgery, patients should rinse the area three times a day.
Use the mouth rinse the oral surgeon recommends or use warm salt water.
Avoid harsh alcohol-based mouthwashes. Do not gargle or rinse vigorously.
Follow diet restrictions
For the first three or four days after surgery, stick to softer foods such as jello,
yogurt, pudding, mashed potatoes and lukewarm soup. Drink plenty of fluids,
but do not drink out of a straw. Avoid acidic food, spicy food and hot liquids.
Patients can return to eating normally once they are able to endure solid foods,
and this time frame will vary for each individual.
Refrain from smoking
Smoking can be detrimental to the healing process and increase bleeding. Avoid
smoking for a minimum of 21 days after the surgery and even longer if possible.
Restrict activity
For the first few days after the surgery, minimize physical activity. Moving too
much may increase the amount of bleeding.
Know when to contact the oral surgeon
It is normal to experience swelling, discomfort and some bruising after
a bone graft, but you should contact the office if you experience certain
symptoms. These include:
● Marked fever
● Pain that is uncontrollable
● Bleeding that will not stop
● Allergic reactions to medication
● Warm swelling of the area days after the surgery